LIBRARY 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 


Class 


,ff 


MEMOIR 


ULRIC   DAHLGREN 


BY    HIS    FATHER, 

REAR-ADMIRAL   DAHLGREN. 


Pure  from  all  stain,  save  that  of  human  clay, 
Which  Christ's  atoning  blood  hath  washed  away, 
By  mortal  sufferings  now  no  more  oppressed, 
Mount,  sinless  spirit,  to  thy  destined  rest! 
While  I,  reversed  our  nature's  kindlier  doom, 
Pour  forth  a  father's  sorrows  on  thy  tomb."^ ,  , 


FH 1LADELPH1A: 

J.    B.    LIPPINCOTT    &    CO. 

1872. 


o( 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1871,  by 

MRS.    M.   V.    DAHLGREN, 
In  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress  at  Washington. 


THIS    MEMOIR 


TO   THOSE 

UNION  PRISONERS  HELD  AT  RICHMOND, 

FOR   WHOSE    LIBERATION    FROM    A    CAPTIVITY 
WORSE   THAN    DEATH, 

ULRIC    DAHLGREN 

FREELY     GAVE     HIS     OWN     LIFE. 


225785 


THE  death  of  Admiral  Dahlgren  prevented  the 
realization  of  his  earnest  desire  to  contribute  to 
the  historic  vindication  of  his  heroic  son  Ulric,  by 
the  publication  of  this  memoir.  Consequently,  this 
sad  yet  pleasing  duty  devolves  upon  his  widow. 


(v) 


INTRODUCTION. 


r  I  ^HE  following  sketch  is  designed  to  preserve 
the  memory  of  one  whose  light  was  extin 
guished  before  the  first  year  of  manhood  was  com 
pleted,  and  whose  ray  glittered  amid  the  noontide 
splendor  with  which  the  warriors  of  the  Union 
emblazoned  the  standard  of  their  glorious  cause. 

He  laid  down  his  young  life,  with  all  its  bright 
promise,  in  a  fruitless  but  noble  effort  to  rescue 
his  fellow-soldiers  from  the  loathsome  dungeons 
of  the  rebel  capital. 

So  young ! — and  yet  it  seemed  that  riper  years, 
even  if  extended  to  the  utmost  limit  of  the  mortal 
term,  were  not  needed  to  complete  the  evidences 
of  honor,  valor,  purity,  and  devoted  patriotism 
that  irradiated  the  dawn  of  life. 

The  materials  for  this  memoir  have  been  found, 
partly  in  the  personal  recollection  of  the  family, 
partly  in  his  letters  and  little  memoranda  which  he 


viii  INTRODUCTION. 

made  occasionally ;  sometimes  in  the  correspond 
ence  of  the  press,  and  in  official  documents.  Much 
is  unavoidably  wanting  that  would  have  been  of 
great  interest,  and  so  far  this  sketch  is  incomplete, 
though  enough  remains  to  establish  fully  the  char 
acter  and  conduct  of  this  youthful  soldier. 

While  endeavoring  to  give  some  idea  of  the  part 
that  fell  to  his  share  in  the  great  events  of  the 
time,  it  has  been  indispensable  to  sketch  those 
events  sufficiently  to  show  his  connection  there 
with.  But  in  doing  so,  it  has  not  been  intended 
to  trench  on  the  province  of  history,  or  to  take 
part  in  any  of  the  professional  questions  that  have 
arisen  in  regard  to  the  conduct  of  military  opera 
tions. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER    I. 

PAGE 

Early  Life  .          .          .          .          .          .          .          .          .11 

CHAPTER    II. 
The  Rebellion    .  ?i 


CHAPTER    III. 
Harper's  Ferry   ...... 


CHAPTER    IV. 
Campaign  with  the  Army  of  Virginia,  July  to  November, 

1862 72 

CHAPTER    V. 
The  Ride  into  Fredericksburg,  November  9,  1862        .         .       92 

CHAPTER    VI. 

Campaign  of  General  Burnside,  November  7,  1862,  to  26th 

January,  1863       .          .          .          .          .          .          .  117 

(ix) 


x  ( 'CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER    VII. 

PAGE 

Campaign  of  General  Hooker,  December  13  to  June  28, 
1863,  including  the  Battle  of  Chancellorsville  and  the 
Combat  at  Beverly  Ford  .  .  .  .  .  .124 

CHAPTER    VIII. 
Eight  Days  of  the  Gettysburg  Campaign       .          .          .          -156 

CHAPTER     IX. 
Wounded  and  at  Home       .         .         .         .         .         .  173 

CHAPTER    X. 
Off  Charleston 185 

CHAPTER    XI. 

Attempt  to  rescue  the  Union  Soldiers  from  Captivity  at  Libby 

and  Belle  Isle,  in  Richmond        .  .         .         .     204 

CHAPTER    XII. 
"  The  Beauty  of  Israel  is  slain  upon  thy  High  Places"  .     224 

CHAPTER    XIII. 
Conclusion — Recovery  of  the  Remains — Funeral  Discourses 

and  Obsequies      ........     262 

APPENDIX          .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .        .291 


M  E  M  O  I  R 


ULRIC    DAHLGREN 


CHAPTER  I. 

EARLY  LIFE. 

ULRIC  DAHLGREN,  the  second  son  of  Rear- 
Admiral  and  Mary  Dahlgren,  was  born  April 
3d,  1842,  at  a  rural  home  near  the  Neshamony,  in 
Bucks  County,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  received 
the  first  rites  of  the  church  from  the  hands  of  the 
Rev.  J.  P.  Wilson,  who  little  thought  at  the  time 
that  it  would  become  his  duty  afterwards  to  bestow 
the  last  tribute  of  a  friend  and  a  Christian  minister 
upon  the  mortal  remains  of  this  infant,  then  ripened 
to  manhood  and  to  a  place  in  his  country's  re 
membrance. 

When  little  more  than  a  year  old,  his  parents 
removed  to  Wilmington,  Delaware,  where  he  passed 
five  years  of  happy  childhood  under  the  eye  of  a 
lovely  and  affectionate  mother,  upon  whom  the 

oo 


12  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

sole  charge  not  unfrequently  rested  during  the 
absence  of  her  husband  in  the  discharge  of  his 
professional  duties. 

He  is  well  remembered  as  a  laughing,  sprightly 
little  fellow,  brimming  with  health  and  high  spirits. 
In  due  course  of  time  he  passed  from  the  white 
slip  of  infancy  to  the  coveted  honors  of  jacket  and 
trousers.  Memory  recalls  him  seemingly  very 
thoughtful  in  the  grave  contemplation  of  such  an 
event,  being  one  of  the  few  moments,  perhaps, 
when  his  merry  features  yielded  to  serious  impres 
sions. 

Every  accessory  to  the  fullest  indulgence  of  his 
juvenile  activity  might  be  found  in  the  snug,  cosy 
home,  which  was  just  fitted  for  the  high  place  and 
holiday  of  children ;  their  happiness  unmarred  by 
the  fear  of  spoiling  carpets  or  furniture.  And  there, 
at  any  time  in  the  day,  might  be  seen  and  heard 
little  Ully,  with  his  rosy,  laughing  face, — chirping 
and  galloping  around,  whip  in  hand,  making  terri 
ble  commotion  among  imaginary  horses  and  wag 
ons  in  the  shape  of  stools  and  chairs;  while  near 
by  sat  a  fond  mother,  glancing  now  and  then  from 
needle  and  work  towards  her  boy  thus  engaged ; 
or,  perhaps,  when  sorely  worsted  by  the  sport, 
demurely  poring  over  his  slate,  with  pencil  in  hand, 
limning  uncouth  but  violently  active  figures,  which, 
to  his  eye,  took  the  shape  of  living  animals  of 
every  description. 


EARLY  LIFE.  !3 

Thus  rolled  on  the  course  of  time,  gradually 
developing  both  body  and  mind. 

When  six  years  of  such  life  had  been  completed, 
the  scene  shifted, — for  the  duties  in  which  the 
father  was  then  engaged  withdrew  him  so  much 
from  home  that  it  became  imperative  to  remove 
the  family  to  a  more  convenient  location. 
,  So  the  happy  little  flock  was  gathered  up,  with 
as  much  of  the  home  as  was  portable,  and  borne 
to  Washington,  which,  from  that  time,  became  the 
residence  of  the  family, — this  was  in  May,  1848. 
And  thus  little  Ully  was  transplanted  to  the  na 
tional  capital,  where  the  remainder  of  his  short  but 
glorious  life  was  to  be  passed,  and  to  receive  its 
future  form  and  direction. 

Two  or  three  years  were  permitted  to  go  by 
before  the  trammels  of  school-life  were  imposed, 
and  these  were  uncheckered  by  events,  save  those 
which  ordinarily  pertain  to  juvenile  life. 

But  the  instincts  of  his  nature,  as  subsequently 
recognized,  were  beginning  to  crop  out, — particu 
larly  that  fond  attachment  to  horses  which  remained 
to  the  last.  It  is  remembered  that  when  taken  to 
gratify  his  childish  wonder  by  a  sight  of  a  new 
President,  but  an  old  warrior,*  his  quick  response 
to  the  questions  of  the  general  was,  "Where  is 
Whitey?"  for  in  his  boyish  estimation  the  horse 

*  General    Taylor. 
2 


I4  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

was  as  great  as  the  rider  that  he  had  carried  to 
battle,  and  most  happy  was  he  made  by  permission 
to  see  the  illustrious  quadruped. 

At  last  came  the  school;  and  under  the  faithful 
teaching  of  that  able  scholar,  Mr.  O.  C.  Wight, 
Ully  was  initiated  into  the  mysteries  of  Latin 
grammar,  and  the  usual  course  of  other  branches. 

Meanwhile  many  surrounding  influences  were 
at  work,  silently,  gradually  moulding  the  character. 

At  home,  there  was  regularity  and  comfort,  with 
out  ostentation ;  at  school,  steady,  firm,  conscien 
tious  instruction;  while  at  both  home  and  school, 
all  due  regard  was  paid  to  the  religious  training. 

The  intervals  of  study  were  spent  with  his  father 
at  the  "ordnance  department"  of  the  Navy  Yard, 
— where  might  be  seen  material  of  war  in  every 
variety,  from  its  first  inception  to  the  finished  can 
non.  Each  nook  of  workshop  and  magazine  was 
known  to  the  boy, — he  witnessed  the  silent  labors 
of  thought  in  his  father's  study,  and  their  develop 
ment  in  design ;  afterwards  the  elaborate  finish  of 
the  accomplished  draughtsman;*  the  arrangement 
of  each  part  for  the  lathe  or  the  vice  by  the  busy, 
skillful  fo reman  ;f  the  glowing  glories  of  the  fur 
nace,  and  the  never-ceasing  hum  of  the  machinery, 
as  the  industrious  and  unrivaled  workmen  reduced 
the  metal  to  its  just  proportions  and  finish.  At 


*  Mr.  Cluss.  f  Mr.  Halroyd. 


EARLY  LIFE.  15 

the  battery,  he  gazed  with  deep  interest  on  the 
hardy  seamen,  as  they  whirled  onward  the  light 
howitzers  with  well-trained  arms,  or  manned  the 
ponderous  cannon;  then  the  stunning  blast,  the 
whir  of  the  missile,  and  its  quick  flash  as  it  burst 
far  away,  aimed  at  the  distant  mark.  Around  him 
,was  every  contribution  that  invention  or  labor 
could  give  to  the  subject, — he  heard  discussed  and 
saw  tried  every  species  of  cannon  and  small  arms, 
shot,  shell,  fuses,  etc.  that  disciplined  thought  or 
wild  fancy  could  devise;  while  his  keen  eye  and 
sober  thought  were  noting  all  and  working  out 
their  own  conclusions,  so  that,  when  afterwards 
launched  upon  the  field  of  action,  his  judgment 
and  experience  in  artillery  were  perceived  and  duly 
estimated  by  his  superior  officers. 

His  fondness  for  athletic  exercises  also  found 
ample  opportunity  at  the  Navy  Yard,  where  much 
of  his  leisure  was  passed  in  swimming  and  rowing, 
under  the  instruction  of  some  of  the  ordnance  sea 
men, — veterans  these,  fine  specimens  of  a  manly 
calling,  who  had  been  selected  to  serve  there  by 
reason  of  their  experience  or  intelligence, — true 
lovers  of  boyhood,  and  ever  ready  to  join  in  its 
pursuits  or  its  pleasures.  Under  such  tuition,  Ulric 
became  an  expert  swimmer  and  boatman. 

Other  influences,  too,  were  at  hand.  Under  the 
lofty  domes  of  the  Capitol,  the  school-boy  often 
lingered  to  look  upon  the  deliberations  of  the  peo- 


10  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

pie's  representatives.  There  he  listened  to  the 
massive  sentences  of  Webster  and  the  graceful 
oratory  of  Clay,  with  bursts  of  eloquence  and  of 
thought  from  other  powerful  speakers. 

The  picture  was  filled  in  with  occasional  glimpses 
of  Scott  and  other  veteran  warriors,  whose  achieve 
ments  were  recorded  in  his  school-books,  while 
the  navy  was  represented  by  Morris,  and  Warring- 
ton,  and  Shubrick,  and  Smith,  the  relics  of  1812. 

Such  mighty  lights  and  shadows  were  not  lost 
on  the  young  intelligence,  but  were  keenly  regarded 
and  well  appreciated, — they  could  not  but  expand 
and  elevate  the  mind,  the  heart,  and  the  soul  of  the 
American  youth. 

He  was  only  a  little  playful  urchin  when  the 
events  of  1850  had  wellnigh  ripened  into  catas 
trophe  and  hurried  to  fierce  action  those  elements 
which,  some  ten  years  later,  were  to  menace  the 
existence  of  the  Union,  and  to  light  the  flame  of  a 
civil  war  in  which  he  himself  was  destined  to  play 
his  part  and  to  close  his  earthly  career. 

Sorely  puzzled  were  the  boy  and  his  brother  to 
comprehend  how  professed  friends  to  the  country 
could  approach  its  destruction  so  nearly;  for  the 
wild  declamation  of  disloyal  men,  and  an  unreason 
ing  portion  of  the  press,  were  inflaming  the  com 
mon  mind  to  madness,  and  it  was  no  easy  task  for 
the  master-spirits  to  rule  the  tempest. 

The  Whig  leaders  seemed  to  him  identified  with 


EARLY  LIFE.  ij 

the  true  doctrine,  whilst  his  brother  was  inclined  to 
the  Democratic  faith, — so  the  notions  of  the  two 
school-boys  often  came  into  controversial  collision. 
On  one  occasion,  having  exhausted  their  arguments 
and  their  breath,  appeal  was  made  to  the  father, 
who  told  them  that  both  creeds  were  designed  for 
the  common  good,  dissimilar  as  they  seemed  ;  but, 
as  disunion  was  now  openly  proposed  as  the  only 
possible  remedy,  they  were  earnestly  cautioned  to 
beware  of  any  political  dogmas  that  tolerated  such 
an  idea,  and  to  withdraw  from  all  who  countenanced 
it.  This  injunction,  often  repeated,  is  supposed  by 
the  father  to  have  exercised  a  lasting  influence  on 
his  son's  convictions. 

About  this  time,  a  very  striking  characteristic 
was  the  intense  earnestness  with  which  he  pursued 
an  object  when  once  engaged  in  it ;  if  he  studied, 
it  was  not  so  much  with  the  abstraction  of  a  stu 
dent  as  with  the  resolution  to  accomplish  a  set 
purpose, — while  mixing  in  boyish  sports  he  was 
just  as  intent, — nor  was  he  less  steadfast  in  adher 
ing  to  a  friend.  It  seemed  as  if  he  obeyed  by  in 
stinct  the  scriptural  injunction,  "  Whatever  thy  hand 
findetli  to  do,  do  it  with  all  thy  might" 

Ulric  had  entered  upon  his  thirteenth  year  when 
the  first  pang  of  bitter  sorrow  was  brought  home 
to  his  young  heart, — the  mother  that  loved  him 
so  fondly,  and  had  watched  so  tenderly  over  his 
early  life,  departed.  She  was  one  who,  to  every 


!8  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

charm  of  rare  beauty  and  a  lovely  presence,  added 
the  attractive  graces  of  refined  social  life,  and  a 
Christian  piety  that  never  failed  to  win  the  admira 
tion  of  her  friends  and  the  affectionate  attachment 
of  her  family. 

On  this  sad  occasion,  it  was  observed  that  he 
never  left  his  father,  who  chose  constantly  to 
continue  near  the  remains  of  one  so  cherished. 
There  sat  the  dear  boy,  bowed  in  silent  grief,  utterly 
regardless  of  all  passing  objects.  He  felt  there 
was  good  reason  for  sorrow,  for  he  had  lost  a  de 
voted  mother,  who  had  been  faithful  to  every  want, 
— in  sickness  or  trouble  her  own  hand  ministering 
to  his  necessities,  while  by  her  precept  and  exam 
ple  the  child  knew  what  it  was  to  pray,  and  to  fail 
not  in  Sunday-school  or  in  church.  Her  parting 
words  deepened  these  impressions,  and  her  last 
bequest  to  him  was  a  Bible. 

Thus  life  was  rolling  on  in  successive  years,  and 
the  youth  was  growing  into  the  form  and  thought  of 
after-life,  while  the  cultivation  of  his  mind  was  not 
neglected,  but  was  properly  cared  for.  Yet  it  was 
plain  that  the  bent  and  scope  of  the  lad's  nature 
found  their  end  in  ACTION.  Where  others  thought, 
he  seemed  to  think  and  act  concurrently. 

When  about  fourteen  years  of  age,  he  and  his 
elder  brother  accompanied  their  father  on  a  trip  on 
board  the  Merrimac,  the  first  of  a  new  class  of 
steam-frigates,  which  had  been  completed,  and 


EARLY  LIFE.  !9 

which  became  so  famous  afterwards  as  the  con 
verted  rebel  iron-clad. 

The  armament  was  new,  like  the  ship,  and  after 
the  plans  of  his  father,  whose  purpose  it  was  to 
witness  the  first  operation  of  the  battery,  and  to 
offer  such  suggestions  as  might  be  needed.  It  was 
just  such  an  occasion  as  boys  would  enjoy  to  the 
utmost,  welcomed  as  they  were  in  every  part  of  the 
great  ship,  from  forepeak  to  cabin,  with  that  kindly 
heartiness  which  every  sailor,  whether  officer  or 
man,  extends  to  a  true  boy;  and  no  one  of  them 
all  gave  a  more  cordial  greeting  than  the  honest 
and  gallant  gentleman  who  commanded  the  ship, 
— Commodore  Pendergrast. 

The  course  of  Ulric's  life,  as  just  sketched,  un 
derwent  no  change,  save  in  the  absence  of  his 
father,  who  went  to  sea  in  command  of  the  United 
States  ship  Plymouth,  and  was  agreeably  surprised, 
while  ascending  the  Potomac  on  his  return,  by  an 
unexpected  visit  from  Ulric.  He  had  heard  that 
the  ship  was  in  the  river,  and  had  lost  no  time  in 
persuading  some  of  his  friends  (the  ordnance  tars) 
to  row  him  down,  in  order  to  meet  the  Plymouth, 
which  he  succeeded  in  doing  not  far  from  Mount 
Vernon.  And  when,  a  few  months  later,  the  ship 
put  to  sea  to  assist  in  checking  the  ill-judged  inter 
ference  of  the  British  cruisers  with  our  merchant 
vessels  in  the  West  Indies,  Ulric  accompanied  his 
father,  as  far  as  he  was  allowed,  down  the  river. 


20  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

In  the  summer  of  1858  his  last  term  of  school 
ing  was  completed.  He  was  now  well  grounded 
in  Latin  and  mathematics,  as  well  as  other  branches 
usually  taught, — and  was  a  very  promising  draughts 
man.  Not  that  his  father  would  have  had  his 
studies  terminate  at  so  early  an  age,  but  he  dis 
cerned  such  unmistakable  symptoms  of  distaste 
to  further  confinement  to  scholastic  pursuits,  and 
such  eagerness  to  put  in  practice  results  already 
acquired,  that  he  yielded  to  the  boy's  wishes,  and 
consented  that  he  should  begin  to  fit  himself  for 
the  vocation  he  was  to  follow.  Upon  full  con 
sideration  of  his  son's  tendencies,  it  was  decided 
that  this  vocation  was  to  be  civil  engineering  and 
the  law ;  and  the  Northwest  was  to  be  chosen  for 
the  exercise  of  these  pursuits. 

As  a  preparatory  step,  the  rest  of  1858  was 
passed  in  reviewing  previous  studies  in  field  sur 
veying,  during  which  Ulric  received  practical  in 
struction  from  his  father  in  the  use  of  the  theodolite 
and  plane-table. 

With  a  view  to  further  practice,  he  accepted  an 
invitation  from  his  uncle  to  visit  the  Southwest, 
where  some  tracts  of  wild  land,  which  the  latter 
possessed,  afforded  excellent  opportunity  to  the 
student  for  a  better  acquaintance  with  his  voca 
tion. 

In  January,  1859,  ^e  ^d  set  out  fr°m  home, 
with  a  merry  party  of  young  cousins,  the  course 


EARLY  LIFE.  21 

of  travel  taking  them  through  Richmond,  where 
they  arrived  in  the  afternoon.  His  letter  announc 
ing  this  now  lies  before  the  writer  of  these  lines. 
It  is  dated  from  the  Exchange  Hotel,  and  describes 
what  he  saw  in  walking  around  the  town, — the 
State  capitol,  its  senate -chamber,  the  statue  of 
Washington,  and  other  prominent  objects.  Little 
did  the  brave  boy  dream,  as  he  traversed  the  streets 
of  the  Virginia  capital,  that  a  few  short  years  would 
see  him  reappear  on  that  scene,  bringing  with  his 
charging  squadrons  hope  to  imprisoned  comrades 
and  terror  to  rebel  councils, — then  his  own  lifeless 
body  would  be  borne  along,  perchance  just  where 
he  trod,  with  every  mark  of  indignity  that  panic- 
stricken  traitors  could  offer,  and  destined  by  them 
to  be  forgotten  in  some  nameless  spot. 

Yet  events  were  rapidly  hurrying  the  terrible 
drama  into  action. 

A  few  more  days  of  travel  carried  the  party  to 
the  end  of  their  journey. 

For  more  than  a  year  young  Ulric  gratified  his 
ardent  love  for  a  life  less  trammeled  by  conven 
tionalities  than  that  of  a  city,  and  enjoyed  the 
privilege  of  passing  his  leisure  time  in  the  solitudes 
of  the  forest  and  the  plain ;  every  faculty  braced 
by  breathing  the  free  air  of  heaven,  and  by  gazing 
upon  the  unstinted  luxuriance  of  Nature  in  her 
most  gorgeous  display.  At  such  times  his  horse 
and  rifle  were  often  his  sole  companions, — distances 


22  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

were  spanned  by  the  fleet  hoofs  of  the  one,  while 
the  other,  wielded  by  a  ready  hand  and  a  quick 
eye,  found  fitting  mark  as  the  nimble  deer  bounded 
by. 

Here  the  youth  found  the  school  for  the  scout 
and  the  bivouac,  that  trained  him  in  after-life  to 
encounter  Nature  in  her  roughest  as  in  her  more 
pleasant  moods. 

In  such  pursuits  he  became  familiar*  with  the 
noble  animal  that  so  often  bore  him  over  every 
obstacle,  and  acquired  such  proficiency  in  his  man 
agement  as  to  make  him  one  of  the  best  riders  of 
the  day. 

In  looking  over  the  simple  events  of  this  life,  as 
disclosed  by  his  own  letters,  it  will  be  seen  that  he 
did  not  give  himself  up  solely  to  the  pleasures  of 
the  chase,  but  that  he  participated  in  the  more 
plodding  but  useful  labors  of  the  plantation.  At 
one  time  he  is  engaged  in  running  lines,  or  laying 
out  tracts  of  land,  or  repairing  levees,  or  arranging 
papers  for  his  uncle;  then  he  has  his  studies,  also, 
among  which  he  appears  much  interested  in  im 
proving  himself  in  French. 

Perhaps  the  plantations  are  remote  from  each 
other,  and  a  ride  of  fifty  miles  and  back  makes  a 
pleasant  change  to  vary  the  drudgery.  Perhaps  a 
deer  or  a  bear  strays  across  the  path,  and  agreea 
bly  puts  an  end  to  the  thought  that  has  lasted  just 
long  enough,  or  a  stream  may  intersect  the  road  to 


EARLY  LIFE.  23 

give  interest  to  the  journey.  On  one  occasion  he 
writes,  "  I  tried  to  cross  a  bayou  two  hours  ago, 
on  Charley's  horse,  and  when  I  had  got  half-way 
over  he  sank  right  down  from  under  me,  so  I  had 
to  strike  out  and  swim  for  shore,"  etc. 

Then  he  inquires  of  his  father  in  regard  to  ord 
nance  matters,  and  is  anxious  to  know  something 
of  each  question  as  it  arises, — of  the  gun  of  Arm 
strong,  or.  of  any  other  prominent  inventor.  He 
notices  that  a  sixty-four  pounder  had  burst  and 
killed  two  of  his  old  sailor  friends;  which  grieves 
him.  Sometimes  he  ventures  an  opinion  on  events 
elsewhere,  such  as  the  war  in  Italy,  etc. 

But  the  season  wears  around  when  more  or  less 
sickness  prevails,  and  he  is  obliged  to  leave  with 
the  family  for  better  air.  He  amuses  himself  with 
fencing,  and  French,  and  ten-pins  \  but  so  much 
relaxation  does  not  comport  with  his  earnest  na 
ture  and  industrious  habits.  He  is  soon  to  "return 
to  the  hard  work  again  which  he  prefers  to  all  the 
rest"  He  writes,  "  When  I  have  nothing  to  occupy 
my  mindy  I  always  feel  dissatisfied  until  I  find  my  self 
busy  again"  And  he  contrives  to  find  some  em 
ployment  even  in  this  season,  when  exemption  from 
exertion  is  considered  admissible  on  account  of  the 
excessive  heat:  "/  have  been  biisy  the  last  week 
surveying  a  large  avenue  which  will  run  through  the 
woods." 

Soon  afterwards  he  returns  to  the  plantation,  and 


24  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

writes  in  his  usual  cheerful  and  straightforward 
style.  He  is  engrossed  as  before,  running  lines, 
surveying,  etc. ;  goes  at  some  length  into  details 
of  a  technical  difficulty  which  he  desires  to  know 
more  of.  Then  he  is  engaged  in  hunting  with  his 
cousin.  And  so  the  year  1859  closes  upon  the 
young  lad. 

The  next  year  opens  with  the  glad  notes  of  a 
wedding  near  his  uncle's  residence,  in  the  pleasure 
of  which  he  joins  with  his  accustomed  heartiness* 
but  forgets  not  to  send  wishes  to  his  own  home 
that  the  coming  year  may  be  happy  to  all. 

Again  he  is  following  the  chase,  and  writes  that 
the  party  "  killed  four  deer, — his  cousin  two,  and 
he  two."  Then  he  has  a  little  adventure.  In 
crossing  a  small  lake  his  mare  seemed  to  fail  at  the 
bank,  and  floundered  in  the  soft  mud.  The  moment 
was  critical.  Promptly  the  lad  swung  himself  into 
the  branches  of  an  overhanging  tree,  and  with  one 
hand  fired  his  piece  close  over  the  animal's  head. 
Relieved  of  the  rider's  weight,  and  terrified  by  the 
sudden  discharge,  the  animal  bounded  with  des 
perate  leap  from  the  dangerous  situation,  cleared 
the  bank,  and  made  for  home. 

At  this  time  he  says  that  he  is  five  feet  ten  and 
a  half  inches  high,  and  weighs  one  hundred  and 
thirty- six  pounds.* 

*  Seventeen  years  and  nine  months  old. 


EARLY  LIFE.  2$ 

And  now  the  youth,  conscious  of  some  ability  to 
meet  the  vicissitudes  of  active  life,  makes  known 
to  his  father  his  desire  to  try  his  own  way  in  the 
world.  He  writes  that  he  is  conversant  with  the 
theory  and  practice  of  surveying,  and  is  "  devoted 
to  it."  He  expresses  his  confidence  in  such  a  voca 
tion,  as  opening  a  field  to  any  one  who  will  follow 
it  industriously.  In  a  subsequent  letter  these  views 
are  reiterated,  with  the  further  suggestion  that 
he  may  not  find  the  opportunity  he  seeks  among 
the  great  cotton  estates  where  he  is, — for  to  do 
that,  capital  is  needed, — but  he  looks  to  newer 
countries,  such  as  Texas,  or  Kansas,  or  Arizona, 
where  "a  man's  a  man  for  a*  that"  Not  that  he 
feels  the  return  which  he  makes  to  be  less  than  he 
receives;  but,  as  he  writes,  "The  whole  of  it  is,  I 
want  to  earn  my  living,  which  I  am  doing  now,  but 
in  a  very  indefinite  way." 

And  yet  these  earnest  wishes  are  carefully  sub 
ordinated  to  the  judgment  of  his  parent;  so  that 
when  he  receives  the  unexpected  summons  to  turn 
his  steps  homeward,  in  order  that  all  the  details  of 
a  question  so  important  to  himself  may  be  fully 
understood  and  properly  determined,  he  responds 
at  once,  "As  you  know  what  is  best  for  me,  dear 
father,  I  will  cheerfully  and  willingly  follow  your 
advice." 

Accordingly,  early  in  April,  1860,  he  finds  him 
self  once  more  amid  the  well-known  scenes  of  his 

3 


26  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

boyhood, — the  happy  little  home  that  recalls  so 
much,  and  the  busy  school,  and  so  many  comrades. 

Upon  full  conversation  and  comprehension  of 
Ulric's  views  and  capabilities,  his  father  consents  to 
his  return  for  the  present;  and  by  the  middle  of 
May  he  is  once  more  on  the  banks  of  the  Missis 
sippi,  actively  engaged  as  before.  The  summer 
wears  on,  and  events  are  transpiring  which  did  not 
enter  into  consideration  when  he  left  the  North. 

The  contest  for  the  Presidency  seems  to  involve 
more  than  the  ordinary  course  of  an  election :  the 
preference  of  the  free  States  is  plainly  for  Mr.  Lin 
coln,  and  for  a  policy  manifestly  opposed  to  slavery, 
or  rather  to  its  extension.  The  South  is  more  than 
indignant,  even  at  such  an  avowal,  and  denounces 
it  fiercely,  yet  will  not  agree  on  a  single  name  in 
opposition,  but  permits  the  nomination  of  two  can 
didates,  divides  its  vote,  and  thus  allows  the  choice 
to  go  adversely,  which  it  could  have  determined 
otherwise.  As  the  period  of  the  election  drew  near, 
the  symptoms  of  trouble  became  more  porten 
tous,  and  Ulric  was  recalled  to  his  home ;  for  his 
father  was  unwilling  that  one  so  much  loved  should 
be  separated  from  the  hearth-stone  of  the  family 
at  such  a  crisis. 

He  obeyed  the  call  with  his  usual  alacrity,  took 
leave  of  his  Southern  friends,  and  returned  to  Wash 
ington  in  the  latter  part  of  September,  1860. 

The  moment  seemed  opportune  for  pursuing  the 


EARL  Y  LIFE.  27 

contemplated  study  of  the  law ;  and  on  the  22d  of 
September  he  went  to  Philadelphia,  to  enter  the 
office  of  his  uncle,  Mr.  Jas.  W.  Paul,  a  prominent 
and  highly-respected  lawyer  of  that  city. 

To  this  new  vocation  Ulric  applied  himself  with 
his  habitual  earnestness  and  diligence. 

And  thus  the  destiny  of  the  youth  reverted  to 
the  association  where  it  truly  belonged.  It  was  a 
sore  struggle  to  forsake  a  mode  of  life  so  well  suited 
to  his  instincts, — the  free,  fresh  air  of  the  forest  for 
the  confined  atmosphere  of  a  large  city,  the  wild 
excitement  of  the  chase  for  the  quiet  avocation  of 
the  office,  the  untrammeled  freedom  of  rural  life  for 
the  guarded  conventionalities  of  polite  society. 

And  yet  this  active  and  fearless  spirit  cheerfully 
gave  up  his  chosen  pursuits,  like  a  dutiful  son,  as 
he  was,  and  set  about  his  new  calling  with  all  the 
earnestness  of  an  exalted  nature. 

It  was  hard  to  believe  that  the  bold  woodsman, 
who  had  so  lately  roved  over  hill  and  plain,  forest 
and  river,  should  be  transformed  so  quickly  into 
the  quiet  lad  who  now  so  tranquilly  threaded  the 
thronged  streets,  or  bent  him  so  intently  over  the 
desk.  The  hand,  so  used  to  the  rifle  and  rein,  was 
now  given  to  the  lighter  task  of  pressing  carefully 
the  black-lettered  page,  and  the  eye  that  had 
beamed  with  delight  at  Nature  in  her  wildest  mag 
nificence,  now  rested  in  calm  contemplation  of  the 
mysteries  of  digests  and  commentaries.  Throb  on, 


28  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

brave  young  heart,  in  peace  while  you  may,  soon 
shall  you  be  awakened  to  the  thrilling  sounds  of 
battle,  and  be  inspired  by  the  holiest  sentiments  of 
our  nature.  Then,  be  hushed  forever ! 

The  remainder  of  1860  was  given  to  the  business 
of  the  office,  followed,  after  hours,  by  exercise  at 
the  gymnasium,  and  in  the  evening,  by  attendance 
at  the  Franklin  Institute,  for  which  he  had  great 
admiration.  His  time,  as  he  writes,  being  divided 
thus :  up  at  seven  (November) ;  at  the  office  from 
eight  to  one ;  dinner,  one  to  two ;  again  at  the 
office  from  two  to  half-past  four  P.M.;  the  gymna 
sium  until  six,  then  supper,  ending  with  the  Insti 
tute,  where  he  remained  until  bedtime,  at  nine  or 
ten  o'clock. 

Occasionally  he  speaks  of  friends  whom  he  visits, 
particularly  Captain  Percival  Drayton  (of  the  navy), 
his  father's  well-tried  and  old  comrade.  He  also 
meets  his  elder  brother,  Charles,  who  is  engaged  in 
steam  engineering,  and  happens  to  be  at  Wil 
mington  in  the  course  of  business. 

At  times,  his  letters  report  progress  in  the  law, 
and  satisfactory  results  of  examinations. 

But  at  no  time  is  his  attention  diverted  from  the 
various  phases  of  the  great  issues  that  are  looming 
up  about  him  like  mighty  shadows,  threatening  to 
involve  in  gloom  the  fairest  future  ever  promised  to 
a  nation.  The  meeting  of  Congress  is  at  hand, 
when  the  already  well-known  decision  of  the  people 


EARL  Y  LIFE. 


29 


will  be  formally  announced.  He  writes,  "  I  hope 
that  pleasant  relations  will  soon  be  restored  between 
the  North  and  South."  Soon  after,  he  mentions 
a  grand  Union  meeting,  which  he  hopes  will  serve 
as  the  initiative  in  restoring  peace ;  looks  on  the 
present  state  of  affairs  as  deplorable,  etc. 

And  in  his  Christmas  greeting,  says,  "  I  have 
been  waiting  anxiously  to  see  something  done  by 
some  party,  and  at  last  it  has  come  in  the  shape  of 
Fort  Moultrie  being  abandoned,  which  will,  no 
doubt,  precipitate  Southern  action." 

The  considerate  and  temperate  views  of  this  mere 
lad  were  only  those  of  the  North,  even  at  this  time, 
when  one  star  had  shot  madly  from  its  place  in  the 
constitutional  firmament,  and  had  thus  begun  the 
work  of  dissolution,  to  which  its  policy  for  years 
had  been  pledged. 

The  public  mind  was  deeply  impressed  with  the 
nature  of  the  crisis,  but  by  no  means  to  the  extent 
competent  to  avert  the  evil ;  and  the  uncertainty  as 
to  the  proper  remedy  which  pervaded  the  masses 
who  sustained  the  Union,  confused  opinion  :  Presi 
dent  Buchanan  openly  announced  that  he  had  no 
power  to  coerce,  and  no  right,  if  he  had  the  power. 

Whilst  so  many  older  and  more  experienced  men 
hesitated,  Ulric  writes,  about  New  Year's  (1861), 
"  I  hope  they  will  take  some  definite  action."  And 
a  few  days  later,  "  Everything  seems  worked  up  to 
the  highest  pitch  of  excitement  on  account  of  politi- 

3* 


30  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

cal  affairs  generally."  Still,  his  resolute,  pleasant 
nature  is  not  disturbed,  nor  driven  to  the  advocacy 
of  violent  measures. 

Before  the  first  month  of  the  new  year  ends,  five 
States  have  withdrawn  from  the  Union,  and  the  last 
Southern  man  in  the  Cabinet  has  resigned.  Ulric 
briefly  remarks,  "  I  would  like  much  to  belong  to 
a  military  company;"  for  he  fails  not  to  notice  some 
feeble  move  towards  armament,  and  remarks  on 
the  quality  of  some  military  supplies  that  passed 
through  the  city  to  Fort  Delaware. 

During  February  he  is  st^ll  occupied  with  the  law 
by  day,  and  studies  geology  in  the  evening,  not 
forgetting  mathematics ;  anxiously  concerned,  how 
ever,  about  the  pending  troubles, — the  rebellion 
having  taken  shape  by  the  election  of  Mr.  Jeff. 
Davis  as  its  leader. 

Military  and  naval  officers,  too,  are  resigning  to 
follow  their  States. 

About  this  time  his  brief  letters,  when  referring 
to  the  state  of  affairs  at  Charleston,  contain  such 
remarks  as,  "The  American  flag  should  never  have 
been  insulted ;  there  was  no  necessity  for  it.  Ander 
son  is  a  Southern  man,  yet  he  remains  true  to  his 
duty,  both  to  God  and  man." 


CHAPTER    II. 

THE    REBELLION. 

AT   this  crisis    Mr.  Lincoln  succeeded  to   the 
Presidency  of  the  Union. 

It  may  be  said  truly  that  history  does  not  record 
an  instance  where  a  greater  responsibility  was  de 
volved  upon  one  man.  The  whole  Southern  section 
of  the  country  had  revolted  from  its  sworn  alle 
giance,  and  organized  an  independent  government, 
that  received  from  the  State  governments  upon 
which  it  was  based  all  that  was  needed  to  insure 
stability,  as  well  as  the  capacity  for  instant  and 
regular  action  in  its  operations.  It  was  not  the 
sudden  and  unprepared  act  of  the  moment,  but  had 
been  previously  concerted  by  the  ablest  leaders  of 
the  South,  many  of  them  with  the  advantage  of 
official  position  in  the  Cabinet  and  Congress,  as  well 
as  in  the  army  and  navy.  Nor  was  the  movement 
limited  to  measures  merely  civil ;  for  secession 
was  followed  promptly  by  the  seizure  of  the  United 
States  forts,  navy-yards, arsenals,  treasure,  etc.,  while 
most  of  the  Southern  officers  belonging  to  the  se 
ceding  States  joined  the  latter  as  rapidly  as  possible. 


32  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

All  this  occurred  before  President  Lincoln  took 
the  chair;  so  that,  at  the  first  moment  of  his  acces 
sion,  he  found  himself  confronted  by  a  powerful 
rebellion,  ready,  in  every  respect,  to  make  good  its 
defiance  of  the  lawful  government. 

The  free  States,  unprepared  for  this  sudden  and 
violent  outrage,  had  not  even  agreed  upon  the 
remedy  which  the  constitutional  compact  permitted 
in  such  a  case.  Opinions  differed  almost  to  oppo 
sition.  While  the  great  middle  States  that  bordered 
on  the  South  did  not  attempt  to  disguise  their  in 
tention  of  joining  the  rebellion  if  the  United  States 
government  ventured  to  coerce  the  seceding  States, 
yet  they  barely  abstained  from  action  during  the 
time  that  their  senators  and  representatives  retained 
their  seats  in  Congress,  and  contributed  to  paralyze 
any  measures  which  that  body  might  be  disposed 
to  adopt  to  meet  the  emergency. 

In  truth,  the  loyal  States  had  not  reached  the 
conclusion  that  force  was  expedient  even  if  lawful. 
President  Buchanan  had  openly  declared  against 
the  doctrine  of  coercion  ;  and,  although  the  course 
of  the  South  outraged  the  good  sense  and  good 
feeling  of  Northern  patriots,  yet  they  hesitated  to 
plunge  the  country  into  a  civil  war,  which  no  human 
judgment  could  appreciate  in  duration  or  conse 
quences. 

To  President  Lincoln  belonged  the  solution  of 
this  great  problem.  With  all  the  sound  sense  and 


THE  REBELLION.  33 

kindly  feeling  that  so  eminently  distinguished  this 
lamented  statesman,  he  entered  earnestly  upon  the 
appointed  task,  favoring  any  peaceful  resort,  but 
firmly  maintaining  the  rights  of  the  Constitution, 
while  he  abstained  from  all  military  measures  that 
could  aggravate  the  pending  difficulties.  Under 
his  sagacious  guidance  peace  and  unity  might  have 
been  restored  to  the  land  once  more  without  blood 
shed.  But  the  desperate  leaders  of  the  slave  power 
divined  the  probability  of  such  a  result,  and  has 
tened  to  avoid  it  by  one  fatal  blow  that  should 
precipitate  the  impending  struggle.  Sumter  was 
attacked,  and  its  little  garrison  compelled  to  sur 
render  to  the  forces  of  South  Carolina. 

The  President  immediately  issued  his  proclama 
tion  for  troops  to  regain  possession  of  the  United 
States  property  that  had  been  seized  by  the  insur 
gents  from  the  first.  The  loyal  States  hesitated  no 
longer,  but  wheeled  promptly  into  line  and  re 
sponded  to  the  call.  The  first  levies  were,  how 
ever,  necessarily  directed  to  the  preservation  of  the 
capital,  which  was  now  subjected  to  imminent  peril 
by  the  sudden  secession  of  the  border  States,  and 
was  actually  brought  into  contact  with  Virginia,  the 
most  powerful  of  them.  From  this  State,  Wash 
ington  was  only  separated  by  the  Potomac,  and  was 
even  controlled  by  the  range  of  heights  on  its 
southern  bank. 

Disaffection  had  also  been  strongly  manifested 


34 


ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 


in  Maryland  upon  the  first  attempt  to  forward 
troops  to  Washington  by  the  ordinary  railroad 
route  through  that  State.  They  were  assailed  by 
a  mob  in  Baltimore,  and  only  a  single  regiment, 
besides  a  few  detached  companies,  succeeded  in 
passing  through  the  city. 

The  situation  of  the  national  government  was 
thus  rendered  very  precarious.  With  a  mere  hand 
ful  of  troops,  not  exceeding  two  thousand  men, 
confronted  by  Virginia,  cut  off  from  the  loyal  States 
by  Maryland,  no  communication  open  to  reinforce 
ments  save  by  the  Potomac, — a  long  and  winding 
river  flowing  through  insurrectionary  territory,  and 
therefore  liable  to  obstruction, — it  became  a  ques 
tion  whether  the  disloyal  States  should  be  first  to 
the  capture  of  Washington,  or  the  loyal  States  to 
the  rescue. 

If  the  government  of  the  United  States  had  failed 
in  the  first  instance  to  use  its  lawful  power  in  check 
ing  the  march  of  the  rebellion  at  the  outset,  the 
latter  proved  to  be  quite  as  incapable  of  realizing 
the  full  advantage  of  its  own  prompt  decision. 
With  that  preparation  which  a  foreknowledge  of 
its  purpose  permitted,  it  would  have  been  easy  to 
seize  the  capital  by  striking  a  rapid  blow.  As  a 
consequence  of  such  a  step,  Maryland  would  have 
been  released  from  the  Northern  grip, — no  small 
military  gain,  for  the  resolves  of  Mr.  Davis  and  his 
coadjutors  would  have  been  very  differently  esti- 


THE  REBELLION. 


35 


mated  by  foreign  powers  if  they  had  been  issued 
from  the  halls  which  law  and  custom  had  conse 
crated  to  national  legislation.  It  might  even  have 
been  reasonably  expected  that  the  intense  and  ill 
concealed  desire  of  England  and  France  for  the 
division  of  the  great  and  growing  power  of  the 
United  States  would,  in  such  a  case,  have  been  fully 
expressed  by  an  open  recognition  of  the  seceding 
States, — consequences  which,  collectively,  the  firm 
est  believer  in  the  power  of  the  legitimate  govern 
ment  might  well  hesitate  to  add  to  existing  diffi 
culties. 

Amid  this  rush  of  events,  which  thus  gathered 
about  the  capital,  Ulric  beheld  his  father  involved. 
For  quickly,  upon  the  secession  of  the  border 
States,  the  officers  of  the  Washington  Navy  Yard, 
who  happened  to  belong  to  them,  abandoned  their 
duty,  to  join  the  standards  of  what  they  considered 
their  paramount  allegiance ;  and  the  command  of 
this  most  important  position  thereby  devolved  upon 
Captain  Dahlgren,  who  alone  remained  faithful  to 
his  trust.  He  was  aided  by  the  gallant  Wainwright, 
who  afterwards  fell  a  victim  to  the  malaria  of  the 
Mississippi.  The  Navy  Yard  was  not  only  valuable 
on  account  of  the  large  quantities  of  cannon  and  am 
munition  which  it  contained,  but  it  was  also  the  key 
of  our  defenses  on  the  left,  controlling  the  bridge 
and  the  approaches  by  water  from  the  eastern  shore, 
and  overawing  the  disaffected  in  that  vicinity. 


36  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

Whilst  these  and  other  incidents  of  the  great 
drama  were  hastening  into  action,  the  youth  looked 
on  with  as  much  calmness  as  the  interest  they  in 
spired  would  permit.  Unable  at  last  to  control  his 
impulse,  he  seized  the  first  opportunity  that  pre 
sented  of  being  with  his  father,  and  left  Philadel 
phia  for  Washington,  on  the  6th  May,  with  his 
uncle,  Mr.  Abbott  Lawrence.  Along  the  whole 
route  his  observant  eye  encountered  troops  and 
trains.  Arriving  at  the  capital  next  day,  he  ram 
bled  over  the  Navy  Yard,  alive  with  the  array  of 
war  and  preparation.  Passing  into  the  city,  he 
mingled  with  the  crowd,  gazed  admiringly  on  the 
regiments  arriving  hourly,  on  the  strong  garrisons 
in  the  public  buildings,  and  accompanied  his  uncle 
when  he  called  on  Major  Anderson,  fresh  from 
Sumter.  On  Wednesday  he  walked  over  the 
Georgetown  Heights,  then  the  southern  limit  of 
the  Union  lines,  and  next  day  was  at  the  Navy  Yard 
near  his  father  when  he  received  President  Lincoln. 
He  was  present  at  the  various  hospitalities  extended 
to  the  chief  magistrate, — at  the  concert  and  the 
review  of  that  fine  regiment,  the  New  York  /ist, 
then  forming  part  of  the  garrison  of  the  yard; 
and  he  witnessed  the  practice  with  the  heavy  navy 
cannon  and  howitzers,  etc.  In  the  evening  Ulric 
was  one  of  the  throng  that  filled  the  rooms  of  the 
White  House  during  the  levee. 

Next  day  (nth  May)  he  returned  to  Philadelphia, 


THE  REBELLION.  37 

in  order  to  remove  thither  his  young  brother  and 
sister. 

Meanwhile  the  preparation  for  enforcing  the 
national  authority,  and  for  resistance,  was  proceed 
ing  actively,  By  the  latter  part  of  May  the  new 
levies  had  arrived  in  sufficient  numbers  to  warrant 
measures  for  occupying  the  high  ground  near  the 
capital,  which  constitutes  its  best  natural  defense 
to  the  southward;  and,  accordingly,  a  column 
was  advanced  from  the  city  before  daylight  of  the 
24th  of  May,  crossing  the  Long  Bridge  into  Virginia; 
and  thus,  for  the  first  time  in  our  history,  the  troops 
of  the  Federal  government  entered  upon  armed 
occupation  of  the  territory  of  a  sovereign  State  in 
actual  rebellion.  At  the  same  time  a  regiment  of 
Zouaves,  commanded  by  Colonel  Ellsworth,  and 
forming  the  left  wing,  was  transported  by  water,  in 
two  Navy  Yard  steamers.  Captain  Dahlgren,  as 
commandant  of  the  yard,  superintended  this  move 
in  person,  which  was  also  covered  at  Alexandria 
by  the  guns  of  the  Pawnee.  The  rebel  troops,  en 
tirely  unable  to  cope  with  this  force,  abandoned 
the  town  after  a  few  musket-shots,  and  the  Union 
colors  were  again  hoisted  in  place  of  the  flag  that 
the  insurgents  had  too  long  flaunted  in  sight  of  the 
capital.  That  cost  the  life  of  the.  gallant  Colonel 
Ellsworth,  who  fell  just  after  the  event  by  the  hand 
of  an  assassin.  His  body  was  borne  back  to  the 
Navy  Yard  by  Captain  Dahlgren,  on  board  the 

4 


38  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

• 
same  steamboat  on  which  he  had  but  a  few  hours 

before  conveyed  this  young  officer  to  his  last 
service. 

A  company  of  Virginia  cavalry,  under  Captain 
Ball,  became  prisoners,  and  were  transferred  to  the 
Navy  Yard,  where  they  were  treated  by  Captain 
Dahlgren  with  a  kindness  that  was  acknowledged 
at  the  time,  but  not  reciprocated  at  a  later  and  a 
sadder  day. 

By  this  move  General  Scott  secured  the  range  of 
heights  which  commanded  the  capital  in  one  direc 
tion,  and  all  approaches  to  it  from  the  other;  to 
gether  with  the  communication  by  water  from  our 
left  to  the  city  of  Alexandria. 

The  month  of  June  was  spent  in  mutual  prepara 
tion  for  decisive  conflict.  Regiments  from  loyal 
States  accumulated  rapidly  in  Washington,  which, 
as  they  arrived,  were  advanced  to  the  lines  in  front 
that  the  engineers  were  now  establishing  along 
the  heights  recently  occupied.  A  considerable 
part  of  the  force  was  conveyed  by  water,  in  the 
steamboats  of  the  Navy  Yard,  directed  by  Cap 
tain  Dahlgren ;  but  the  main  body  passed  over 
the  Long  Bridge.  About  the  middle  of  the 
month  the  rebels  were  obliged  to  evacuate  Har 
per's  Ferry,  by  reason  of  one  of  our  columns 
advancing  in  that  direction. 

The  North  beheld  with  full  confidence  these 
measures  for  vindicating  the  supremacy  of  the 


THE  REBELLION. 


39 


Union,  and  little  doubt  appeared  to  exist  of  their 
sufficiency  to  crush  out  the  insurrection.  Never 
before  had  a  military  array  so  imposing  been  col 
lected  under  the  national  flag  as  that  whose  tents 
now  whitened  the  hills  of  the  Potomac;  and  per 
haps  such  material  as  that  composing  it  had  never 
before  gathered  under  any  banner. 

Desirous  of  gratifying  the  intense  yearning  of 
his  son  to  look  on  such  a  spectacle,  his  father  gave 
him  leave  to  return  home  for  awhile;  and  on  the 
first  day  of  July  Ulric  reached  Washington.  To 
him  it  seemed  like  a  vast  camp.  Every  train  was 
freighted  with  new  regiments,  which  found  tempo 
rary  abode  in  the  public  buildings  or  were  trans 
ferred  to  the  camp  near  the  lines.  The  avenues 
were  thronged  with  columns  of  infantry  and  artil 
lery,  gayly  moving  to  the  crash  of  numerous  bands, 
while  the  townspeople  looked  on  in  wonder.  The 
Navy  Yard,  too,  was  alive  with  preparation, — 
steamers  arriving  and  departing  freighted  with 
troops  and  stores.  Ordnance  and  ammunition 
were  being  accumulated  and  dispatched,  whilst  all 
the  buildings  that  could  be  spared  were  occupied 
by  a  strong  garrison,  chiefly  composed  of  the  New 
York  7 1 st.  Their  drills  and  those  of  the  Naval 
Howitzer  Companies,  under  Captain  Parker,  drew 
the  attention  of  the  crowds  who  daily  visited  the 
Yard. 

The  effect  of  such  scenes  upon  the  earnest  nature 


40  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

of  the  lad  may  well  be  imagined.  He  interested 
himself  in  all  the  proceedings,  and  everywhere  had 
a  hearty  welcome  from  old  friends  or  new. 

By  the  middle  of  July  the  force  about  the  capital 
had  been  swelled,  by  steady  accessions,  to  an  ex 
tent  which  seemed  capable  of  meeting  the  general 
desire  that  one  decisive  blow  should  be  struck,  and 
it  was  generally  understood  that  the  hour  of  trial 
was  at  hand. 

Those  in  insurrection  had  not  been  idle,  how 
ever,  and  their  determination  to  resist  was  as 
little  understood  as  their  ability  to  do  so.  It 
required  an  experience  of  four  years  to  demon 
strate  both. 

On  the  i6th  July  our  army,  about  fifty  thousand 
strong,  was  in  motion ;  and  on  the  1 8th  a  collision 
occurred  between  its  advanced  detachments  and 
some  works  held  by  the  rebels,  which  our  men 
assaulted,  but  were  repulsed. 

The  2  ist  July,  1861,  will  ever  be  memorable  as 
initiating  the  armed  struggle  which  was  to  be  pro 
longed  until  the  section  in  rebellion  was  entirely 
exhausted. 

The  rebel  army  now  held  a  well-chosen  position 
at  Manassas  Junction,  naturally  of  great  strength, 
and  that  improved  by  careful  engineering, — its  ad 
vance  resting  on  a  small  stream  in  the  front,  which 
gave  its  name  to  the  battle. 

Upon  this  the  new  levies  of  the  republic  were 


THE  REBELLION.  4! 

launched  under  circumstances  that  would  have 
tried  older  troops.  The  ground,  broken  by  ravine 
and  entangled  by  forest,  permitted  but  a  partial 
development  of  the  whole  force,  a  large  portion  of 
which  was  exhausted  by  marching  and  by  want  of 
food,  a  deprivation  to  which,  as  yet,  the  men  were 
not  accustomed.  Still,  most  of  the  regiments  which 
were  actually  engaged  showed  the  best  disposition, 
and,  for  awhile,  the  rebels  were  pressed  so  hard 
that,  but  for  the  timely  arrival  of  Johnston  on  our 
right  flank,  the  result  might  have  been  doubtful. 
This  reinforcement,  however,  turned  the  scale,  and 
produced  so  much  confusion  among  our  men  that 
the  retreat  soon  became  a  rout.  Many  of  the 
brigades  were  entirely  disorganized;  cannon,  am 
munition,  and  baggage  were  abandoned  by  the 
way,  and  a  large  body  of  fugitives  carried  alarm  to 
the  capital  itself,  filling  the  streets  with  a  panic- 
stricken  and  disorderly  crowd.  The  whole  army 
finally  fell  back  until  it  rested  on  the  Alexandria 
lines.  The  city  seemed  to  be  in  imminent  peril, 
more  so,  indeed,  than  it  really  was;  for  if  the  rebel 
leaders  had  followed  up  their  success  they  would 
have  experienced  the  difference  between  attacking 
and  defending  intrenched  positions,  especially  with 
new  troops.  But  they  wisely  forbore  from  a  meas 
ure  which  would  have  stripped  their  victory  of  half 
its  value;  for,  though  our  works  were  incomplete, 
and  our  men  dispirited  by  the  late  reverse,  they 

4* 


42  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

would  have  been  found  fully  competent  to  retort 
severely  if  assaulted  by  the  rebels. 

The  news  of  the  disaster  soon  reached  the  Navy 
Yard.  The  commandant  knew  that  the  battle  was 
going  on,  but  the  tidings  which  were  received  from 
time  to  time  were  favorable.  Late  in  the  afternoon 
the  President  drove  down,  and,  to  that  hour,  no 
adverse  accounts  had  arrived.  But  it  was  hardly 
sunset  when  a  telegram  from  the  War  Department 
to  Captain  Dahlgren  requested  the  presence  of  "an 
armed  vessel  at  Alexandria  to  command  as  much  as 
possible  the  approaches  there,"  which  was  met  by 
sending  the  Perry,  the  only  vessel  of  force  at  the 
Yard.  This  was  sufficiently  significant  of  a  reverse, 
and  the  apprehension  thus  created  was  confirmed 
about  an  hour  later  by  word  that  our  army  had 
been  defeated  and  was  in  retreat. 

On  the  following  day  and  the  succeeding,  various 
requisitions  were  made  on  the  Navy  Yard  for  assist 
ance  and  supplies,  which  were  readily  met  by  the 
commandant;  and  on  the  24th  he  replied  to  a  tele 
gram  from  the  Navy  Department,  by  dispatching 
to  the  lines  three  heavy  cannon  (nine-inch)  and  five 
howitzers,  with  a  prime  body  of  trained  seamen, 
under  Captain  Parker  and  other  navy  officers. 

With  this  detachment  went  Ulric  Dahlgren  as 
aide  to  the  commanding  officer.  And  thus  began 
that  career  in  the  service  of  his  country  which,  for 
a  short  season  only,  was  to  be  distinguished  by  the 


THE  REBELLION.  43 

most  unselfish  devotion,  by  deeds  of  daring,  by 
battle,  by  loss  of  limb,  and,  lastly,  loss  of  life.  He 
had  shared  deeply  in  the  feelings  of  humiliation  that 
pervaded  the  community  at  the  recent  defeat,  un 
mixed  with  any  lack  of  confidence  in  the  ability 
of  our  soldiers  to  retrieve  the  disaster;  and,  with 
the  permission  of  his  father,  he  now  joined  the  naval 
detachment  about  to  be  sent  to  the  front. 

The  range  of  hills  upon  which  were  to  be  based 
the  defenses  of  Washington  to  the  southwest,  in 
cludes  the  space  formed  by  the  bend  of  the  Poto 
mac  at  the  Long  Bridge,  and  sweeps  from  Alexan 
dria  in  a  curved  line  to  the  river  above  Georgetown. 
At  this  time  the  system  of  works  was  incomplete; 
and  the  demoralization  consequent  on  the  late 
check  rendered  it  important  that  the  defects  should 
be  looked  to  at  once.  The  ridge  did  not  extend 
entirely  to  Alexandria,  but  terminated  a  short  dis 
tance  from  its  outskirts,  leaving  an  interval  of 
low  ground  between  its  extremity  and  the  river, 
by  which  a  force  might  pass,  seize  the  town,  and 
turn  the  whole  position  on  the  heights  by  march 
ing  along  its  rear.  Fort  Ellsworth  guarded  the 
extreme  left  of  the  ridge,  but  could  not  check  such 
a  flank  move,  and  would  itself  first  be  taken  in  re 
verse.  To  close  this  gap,  the  navy  guns,  under 
Lieutenant  Parker,  were  posted  on  the  brow  of 
the  crest  looking  towards  the  river,  and  so  swept 
not  only  the  approach  but  the  passage,  and  effect- 


44 


ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 


ually  guarded  the  position  from   being  taken  in 
reverse. 

It  was  half-past  two  P.M.  on  the  24th  July,  when 
the  whole  detachment  left  the  Navy  Yard,  each 
nine-inch  gun  slung  under  a  pair  of  wheels,  drawn 
by  a  yoke  of  oxen.  In  about  half  an  hour  the  party 
landed  at  Alexandria,  and  the  heavy  guns  were 
put  in  motion  at  once,  while  the  seamen  drew  the 
howitzers ;  the  whole  carefully  equipped  with  tents, 
provisions,  ammunition,  etc.  The  subsequent  events 
are  thus  briefly  told  by  Ulric  himself,  in  the  official 
diary  forwarded  by  Lieutenant  Parker  to  Captain 
Dahlgren : 


NAVAL  EXPEDITION  FROM  THE  WASHINGTON 
NAVY  YARD  TO  ASSIST  IN  THE  DEFENSE  OF 
ALEXANDRIA,  VIRGINIA. 


Lieutenant  Commanding,  F.  A.  PARKER; 

Lieutenant,  W.  N.  ALLEN  ;  Master,  D.  C.  WOOD  ; 

Assistant  Surgeon,  A.  B.  JUDSON;  Marine  Officer,  Lieut.  CARTER  ; 

Mr.  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 


"  Wednesday,  July  24,  1 86 1. — Left  the  Navy  Yard 
at  half-past  two  P.M.,  with  three  nine-inch  guns, 
four  smooth  twelve-pound  howitzers,  one  rifled 
howitzer,  and  seventy  seamen.  Three  P.M.,  landed 
at  Alexandria,  and  proceeded  to  Fort  Ellsworth,  to 
remain  there  until  a  position  for  the  battery  could 


THE  REBELLION. 


45 


be  determined  by  the  engineer  officer.  Two  nine- 
inch  guns,  and  all  the  howitzers,  ammunition,  etc., 
were  in  the  fort  by  midnight  (the  other  gun  would 
have  been  in  also,  but  for  an  accident  to  the  wheels 
by  which  it  was  slung) ;  the  men  were  assigned 
their  places  at  the  howitzers,  and  everything  pre 
pared  to  resist  an  attack.  Lieutenant  McCrea,  with 
twenty  seamen  from  the  Pawnee,  reported  for  duty; 
also  Lieutenant  Miller,  with  twenty  seamen  from 
the  brig  Perry.  In  the  streets  of  Alexandria,  and 
on  the  road  to  Fort  Ellsworth,  the  volunteer  sol 
diery-were  met  in  disorganized  masses. 

"Thursday,  July  25. — The  remaining  nine-inch 
gun  was  brought  into  the  fort  at  eight  A.M.  The 
position  for  the  battery  was  determined  by  Colonel 
Franklin  at  eleven  A.M.  Two  platforms  were  finished 
and  the  breastworks  commenced  by  dark.  The  men 
and  carpenters  at  work  until  midnight,  after  which 
all  hands  returned  to  Fort  Ellsworth.  Midnight. 
— Davenport,  of  the  brig  Perry,  relieved  Lieutenant 
Miller.  Commandant  Dahlgren  visited  the  battery, 
accompanied  by  Colonel  Franklin  and  Captain 
Rowan  of  the  Pawnee.  Great  disorganization  ob 
served  among  the  volunteers  in  the  neighboring 
camps. 

"Friday,  July  26.  —  Tents  pitched  and  guns 
mounted  by  night.  Eight  more  men  from  the  brig 
Perry  reported.  Soldiers  visited  the  camp  in  large 
numbers  during  the  day;  they  expressed  great 


46  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

surprise  at  the  rapidity  with  which  the  guns  were 
mounted  and  prepared  for  action,  and  also  a  deter 
mination  to  stand  by  the  'boys'  to  the  last.  Hoisted 
our  flag  amid  the  cheers  of  the  men,  and  gave  the 
name  of '  Fort  Dahlgren'  to  the  work. 

"  Saturday,  July  27. — Shell-pit  dug  out  and 
magazine  finished.  Marines  increased  to  forty  men 
and  a  lieutenant.  The  volunteers  seem  to  be  re 
organizing. 

"  Sunday,  jfidy  28. — No  work  done.  Men  and 
arms  inspected.  General  McClellan  and  General 
McDowell,  with  staff,  visited  the  battery  in  the 
afternoon ;  also  Captain  Rowan  of  the  Pawnee, 
accompanied  by  several  other  officers  of  the 
navy. 

"  Monday,  July  29. — Shell-pit  covered,  and  the 
men  working  in  the  trenches.  Commandant  Dahl 
gren  visited  the  battery;  also  Senator  Rice  (Min 
nesota). 

"Tuesday,  July  30. — All  hands  working  in 
trenches.  Lieutenant  McCrea  detached,  together 
with  Pawnee's  men.  Men  at  quarters  in  the  even 
ing.  Various  volunteer  regiments  drilling;  their 
condition  seems  greatly  improved. 

"  Wednesday,  July  31. — Men  working  in  trenches. 
Rest  after  dinner ;  at  quarters,  and  a  howitzer  drill 
in  the  evening.  Volunteers  drilling  also. 

"Thursday,  Aug.  I. — Men  unable  to  work,  on 
account  of  rain.  At  quarters,  and  drill  at  the 


777^  REBELLION. 


47 


heavy  guns  in  the  evening.  Dress -parade  of 
volunteers  in  the  neighboring  camps  during  the 
afternoon. 

"Friday,  Aug.  2. — Men  working  in  the  trenches. 
Flag  of  truce  arrived  near  here.  Men  ordered  to 
Fort  Ellsworth  to  witness  an  execution.  At  quar 
ters  in  the  evening,  and  a  drill  at  the  heavy  guns. 
Dress-parade  of  volunteers  in  the  neighboring 
camps. 

"  Saturday  y  Aug.  3. — Men  working  in  the  trenches 
this  morning.  Exercise  at  great  guns  and  howitzer 
battery.  Lieutenant  Carter  (marines)  detached,  and 
Lieutenant  Huntingdon  reported  for  duty. 

"  (Signed)  FOXHALL  A.  PARKER, 

"Lieut.  U.  S.  Navy." 

The  perfect  order  with  which  the  whole  operation 
was  conducted,  the  celerity  of  movement,  the  com 
pleteness  of  equipment,  the  discipline  and  thorough 
training  of  the  seamen,  under  such  good  officers, 
was  a  lesson  to  the  young  beginner  which  answered 
as  well  as  a  longer  schooling  would  have  done  in 
a  less  urgent  state  of  things ;  of  this  he  reaped  the 
full  benefit. 

General  McClcllan  arrived  on  the  27th  July,  and 
took  command  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  Con 
fidence  and  a  better  feeling  returned  with  order  ; 
and  as  new  levies  began  to  come  in,  the  desire  to 
move  onward  revived.  It  was  assented  to,  however, 


48  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

on  all  sides,  that  in  order  to  do  this  we  needed  a 
larger  force  than  had  been  contemplated  before,  as 
well  as  a  higher  condition  of  discipline. 

The  rebels,  finding  that  the  Union  forces  adhered 
to  the  lines  of  the  capital,  occupied  with  detach 
ments  the  ground  thus  left  vacant  in  front,  and 
closed  their  skirmishers  to  the  Union  positions, 
particularly  at  Munson's  Hill,  an  eminence  con 
tiguous  to  our  advanced  posts. 

It  required  but  a  few  days  for  the  experienced 
officer  in  command  of  the  naval  battery  to  get  it  into 
perfect  condition ;  the  platforms  were  laid,  the  can 
non  mounted,  the  magazines  for  powder  and  shell 
provided,  the  men  properly  camped,  fed,  and  drilled, 
sentries  posted,  etc.,  and  then  nothing  remained  but 
to  await  whatever  demand  might  arise  for  real  ser 
vice.  This  period  of  inaction  was  used  by  Ulric  in 
exploring  the  neighboring  camps,  and  gathering 
instruction  from  the  continual  process  of  organiza 
tion  by  which  the  armed  multitude  was  to  be  con 
verted  into  a  military  body.  For  the  public  were 
now  convinced  that  more  was  needed  than  numbers 
to  do  the  work  required;  in  which  conviction  our 
men  concurred  fully,  and,  with  hearty  good  will, 
submitted  to  all  the  seventy  and  exactness  of  routine 
which  the  occasion  demanded.  Ulric  saw  daily 
brigades  and  divisions  being  created  and  wrought, 
by  drill  and  discipline,  into  effective  shape,  and 
witnessed  the  accumulation  of  war  material  in  such 


THE  REBELLION.  49 

quantities  and  excellency  as  perhaps  no  other  army 
had  ever  been  so  well  equipped  with. 

In  thus  passing  time,  he  often  encountered  many 
who  had  served  in  the  navy  and  were  friends  of 
his  father ;  for  this  mighty  host  had  been  volun 
teered  from  the  nation  without  regard  to  classes 
or  previous  vocation,  and  the  military  movement 
by  water  was  not  unfrequently  accelerated  by 
the  handicraft  of  the  sailor-soldiers  in  its  ranks. 
One  of  the  regiments  was  commanded  by  an  offi 
cer  (Colonel  McC.  Murphy)  who  had  served  in 
the  same  ship  with  Captain  Dahlgren.  The  lad 
also  made  friends  for  himself,  and  before  long  he 
led  by  this  association  among  the  skirmish 
lines  thrown  out  to  feel  and  annoy  the  rebel  out 
posts.  One  of  these  outposts  was  Munson's  Hill, 
a  prominent  elevation,  where  floated  a  rebel  stand 
ard  that  was  seen  distinctly  from  the  Navy  Yard, 
and  where  the  practice  of  good  marksmen  macle 
adventure  quite  as  dangerous  as  interesting.  Here 
the  young  aide  might  often  be  seen,  with  his  keen 
eye  glancing  over  the  sights  of  a  delicate  and  beau 
tiful  Maynard  rifle.  He  writes  on  the  5th  Sep 
tember  : 

"  I  am  in  the  midst  of  very  exciting  and  interest 
ing  events.  Last  Friday  and  Saturday  I  was  in 
two  skirmishes  near  Munson's  Hill,  in  which  we 
lost  several  killed  and  wounded,  and  they  lost  some 
also.  It  is  regular  Indian-fighting  that  we  do  every 

5 


50  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

day  near  here,  and  I  have  a  Maynard  rifle,  with 
which  /  send  a  telegram  south  occasionally.  At 
present,  my  knees  are  so  sore  from  crawling  in  the 
bushes,  and  fighting  them  in  their  own  style,  that 
I  can  hardly  walk." 

For  this  life  in  camp  and  of  adventure  much  of 
previous  habits  and  training  fitted  him  admirably. 
Though  very  slim  and  light  in  flesh,  he  was  capable 
of  any  endurance,  and  still  delighted  in  the  pursuits 
which  had  their  place  in  the  open  air. 

Occasionally  he  visited  his  father,  at  the  Navy 
Yard,  and  witnessed  passing  events  there.  Some 
times  the  presence  of  a  foreigner  of  distinction 
lent  an  interest  to  the  occasion,  and  testified 
friendly  feelings  felt  in  our  progress.  Among  these, 
no  one  was  more  prominent  than  the  excellent 
Prince  de  Joinville,  who  never  failed  to  evince  his 
solicitude  for  the  re-establishment  of  the  Union,  and 
at  last  shared  in  the  perils  of  the  battle-field.  With 
him'  were  his  two  nephews,  the  Count  of  Paris  and 
the  Duke  de  Chartres,  both  of  whom  wore  the 
Union  uniform  as  captains  on  the  staff  of  the  general. 

Prince  Napoleon  also  visited  the  Navy  Yard 
early  in  August,  and,  to  his  honor,  was  known  to 
have  entertained  and  expressed  friendly  sentiments 
to  the  Union  cause,  though  such  were  by  no  means 
fashionable  at  the  Imperial  Court. 

By  the  middle  of  September  it  became  evident 
that  it  would  be  impossible  to  organize  so  large  an 


THE  REBELLION.  51 

army  for  active  operations  before  the  advent  of  the 
winter;  therefore  no  movement  of  any  consequence 
could  be  anticipated  before  the  spring.  To  this 
delay  even  the  general  impatience  was  forced  to 
submit. 

Ulric  was  therefore  dispatched  to  Philadelphia 
in  order  to  resume  his  studies  during  this  period 
of  inaction.  The  remarkable  facility  with  which 
he  yielded  his  own  wishes  to  those  of  his  father 
was  never  more  strikingly  exemplified  than  in  this 
instance.  Putting  aside  his  rifle,  and  all  the  "  pride, 
pomp,  and  circumstance  of  glorious  war,"  he  de 
parted  for  Philadelphia,  and  again  took  his  place  at 
the  desk,  as  cheerfully  as  if  his  earnest  nature  had 
never  been  absorbed  in  the  great  events  of  the 
passing  struggle,  nor  burned  with  intense  desire  to 
bear  any  part,  however  humble,  in  the  cause  of  his 
country. 

He  was  assured,  however,  that  when  the  ap 
pointed  hour  of  action  should  come,  he  would  be 
recalled  to  share  in  the  first  opportunity  for  ser 
vice  that  might  offer;  and  he  felt  consoled  in  that 
knowledge. 

The  study  of  the  law  was  varied,  as  before,  by 
exercise  and  by  a  quiet  evening  with  some  friend. 
Other  objects  also  presented  themselves  to  his  at 
tention.  It  was  at  this  time  that  his  father  gave 
him  the  copyright  of  a  formula  for  the  drill  of  his 
own  eleven-inch  gun,  and  Ulric  had  it  printed  and 


52  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

published  as  afterwards  circulated  in  the  navy  by 
the  order  of  the  Bureau  of  Ordnance. 

A  number  of  patriotic  young  gentlemen  of  the 
city  also  associated  to  form  a  light-artillery  com 
pany;  and  Ulric,  as  one  of  the  members,  entered 
with  his  wonted  zeal  and  activity  into  the  practical 
execution  of  the  project.  His  letters  to  his  father 
interested  the  latter,  so  that  four  navy  howitzers 
were  loaned  to  the  company  for  its  use.  In  one 
letter  he  narrates  an  interview,  in  relation  to  this 
purpose,  with  the  commandant  of  the  Navy  Yard 
(Philadelphia),  Commodore  Pendergrast,  who  had 
commanded  the  Merrimac  when  Ulric  was  on 
board,  some  years  past,  during  the  trip  to  Annap 
olis.  The  gallant  veteran  had  not  forgotten  his 
young  guest,  and  taking  him  aside,  after  business 
with  the  captain  of  the  howitzer  company,  he 
doffed  his  official  bearing,  and  indulged  in  a 
hearty  laugh  with  the  lad. 

Among  the  events  of  the  day,  he  does  not  forget 
the  navy,  but  exults  in  the  capture  of  Port  Royal 
by  Admiral  Dupont,  and  remarks,  "  The  war-ships 
showed  their  teeth,  and  how  deep  they  could  bite'' 

The  period  was  at  hand  when  the  scene  was 
to  open  on  the  soldier-life  of  the  young  patriot, 
and  when,  freed  from  every  trammel,  he  was  to 
take  the  part  he  so  well  sustained  under  many 
trials, — never  ceasing  from  that  solemn  duty  until 
death  released  him  forever. 


CHAPTER    III. 
HARPER'S  FERRY. 

THE  Union  had  at  last  an  army  in  the  field  that 
seemed  capable  of  realizing  every  wish  of  the 
country.  It  was  numerous,  well  appointed,  and  as 
well  trained  as  the  efforts  of  able  officers,  unceas 
ingly  exerted  for  nine  months,  could  make  it.  At 
its  head  was  a  leader  in  whom  the  troops  and  the 
President  had  full  confidence. 

The  spring  was  advancing,  and  the  miry  roads 
of  Virginia  were  beginning  to  harden  sufficiently 
for  the  movements  of  the  army  and  its  heavy 
trains. 

The  whole  nation  was  expectant,  for  our  great 
host  was  about  to  move,  and  we  were  evidently  at 
the  threshold  of  important  events.  The  ardent 
nature  of  the  young  student  was  stirred  to  its  in 
most  depths.-  He  could  brook  inactivity  no  longer, 
nor  fix  his  thoughts  on  the  quiet  pursuits  of  the 
law-office  when  the  din  of  arms  resounded  through 
out  the  land,  and  every  loyal  heart  was  bent  on 
the  coming  struggle,  which  again  it  was  fondly 
hoped  would  crush  the  rebellion  at  a  blow. 
5*  (53) 


54  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

In  his  gentle  but  earnest  manner,  Ulric  made 
known  his  wishes  to  his  father,  who  yielded  to 
them  without  hesitation. 

And  so,  not  hastily,  but  carefully,  and  almost 
reverentially,  the  youth  laid  down  the  reasonings  of 
the  great  expounders  of  the  law,  that  he  might  take 
his  place  in  the  ranks  ;  for  he  felt  that  the  argument 
had  been  closed  forever  in  the  great  council  of  the 
nation,  and  that  the  decision  lay  with  the  sword. 

The  thoroughness  with  which  he  fulfilled  every 
duty  or  purpose  was  never  more  strikingly  exem 
plified  than  in  the  closely-written  memoranda  of  his 
legal  studies.  The  lectures  of  Judge  Sharswood, 
which  he  attended  at  the  law  school,  are  faithfully 
minuted  to  the  last,  in  a  clear,  regular  hand,  without 
a  single  blemish.  The  last  is,  "  Examination,  Feb. 
24,  1862." 

It  was  about  the  middle  of  April  that  he  repaired 
to  Washington,  and  took  his  place  near  his  father 
to  assist  in  the  labors  of  the  naval  ordnance,  for 
which  his  previous  training  so  admirably  qualified 
him.  In  former  days  it  had  been  a  pastime,  now 
it  was  to  be  a  duty  as  well  as  a  pleasure ;  and  in 
the  discharge  of  that  duty  he  felt  himself  to  be  no 
privileged  incumbent.  With  the  quiet,  unassuming 
manner  that  always  marked  his  deportment,  he  was 
to  be  seen,  early  and  late,  industriously  occupied 
with  such  writing,  or  drafting,  or  other  duty,  as 
might  be  assigned  him. 


HARPER'S  FERRY. 


55 


It  was  this  never-failing  integrity  of  purpose  that 
won  him  the  perfect  confidence  of  his  father;  for  it 
was  not  a  mere  habit, — it  was  part  and  parcel  of 
his  nature ;  he  could  not  do  otherwise. 

Ulric  had  now  just  completed  his  first  score  of 
years.  The  healthy  hue  previously  acquired  in  the 
playground  of  the  schoolboy,  and  deepened  almost 
to  bronzing  by  Western  life,  was  lost  in  the  seclu 
sion  of  a  student ;  and  he  had  also  run  up  to  a 
stature  of  six  feet,  too  rapidly  for  the  close  knitting 
of  his  frame. 

Still,  he  was  active,  well  practiced  in  the  training 
of  the  gymnasium,  capable  of  any  fatigue,  in  perfect 
health,  and  fully  endowed  with  that  elasticity  of 
mind  and  body  which  youth  and  health  alone  can 
confer. 

The  hours  that  remained  from  the  labors  of  his 
office  were  mostly  passed  in  the  stately  but  quaint 
old  mansion  which  his  father  inhabited  as  command 
ant  of  the  Navy  Yard.  There  Hull  and  other  well- 
known  sea-commanders  had  lived,  and  some  had 
died  ;*  and  in  its  long  galleries,  late  in  the  day, 
young  Ulric  might  be  seen,  seated  in  thoughtful 
repose  near  the  door,  his  eye  wandering  over  the 
singularly  contrasted  view  of  green  trees  and  shrub 
bery,  from  which  rose  here  and  there  the  tall  chim- 

*  The  author  of  this  memoir,  Admiral  Dahlgren,  died  at  this 
residence,  July  12,  1870. 


56  i      ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

neys  of  busy  forges  and  glowing  furnaces.  Or  in  the 
quiet  dining-room,  father  and  son  might  be  found 
over  the  daily  meal,  in  happy  companionship. 

And  thus  passed  the  hours  and  the  days  of  the 
young  man, — brightly,  joyously,  with  duty  before 
him  ;  yet  he  was  not  unobservant  of  passing  events, 
and  was  only  biding  his  time. 

On  special  occasions  he  had  opportunities  of 
seeing  some  of  the  great  actors  in  the  national 
drama,  and  of  being  near  them.  In  one  instance 
he  was  invited  aboard  the  Miami,  when  the  Presi 
dent  went  down  the  Potomac,  with  his  Secretaries 
of  War  and  Treasury,  to  have  personal  cognizance 
of  affairs  at  Acquia,  which  had  just  then  been  occu 
pied  by  our  forces  under  General  McDowell,  who 
came  on  board  the  Miami  to  pay  his  respects  to 
the  President  as  soon  as  he  heard  of  his  arrival. 
Ulric  listened  with  no  little  zest  to  the  recital  of 
the  operation  from  the  commanding  officer,  and  to 
what  he  had  to  say  of  Bayard's  cavalry  exploits ; 
and  he  saw  the  name  of  that  gallant  officer  pen 
ciled  down  by  the  Secretary  of  War  for  promotion 
to  the  rank  of  brigadier-general,  little  thinking  in 
his  freest  fancy  that  the  same  hand  would  sign  his 
commission  as  colonel  in  scarcely  more  than  a 
year,  when  he  would  be  told  that  intermediate 
grades  had  been  passed  over  because  of  his  dis 
tinguished  service. 

Even    so,  brave  boy,   and   before    the    year    is 


HARPER'S  FERRY.  57 

ended,  the  hills  you  now  look  on  will  behold  you 
spurring  fresh  from  daring  deeds  at  Fredericks- 
burg. 

Events  now  come  hastening  thickly  on.  Mc- 
Clellan  is  in  Yorktown,  has  pushed  by  Williams- 
burg,  and  is  approaching  Richmond  with  the  eagles 
of  the  republic.  McDowell's  force  has  been  swelled 
by  additions  to  a  goodly  army,  and  he  is  soon  to 
advance  and  join  McClellan. 

The  President  wishes  to  look  on  this  array  be 
fore  it  departs  on  its  appointed  task.  So,  with  the 
Secretary  of  War,  he  descends  the  Potomac,  tra 
verses  the  short  rail -track  from  Acquia,  and  is 
gladly  welcomed  by  the  generals  and  their  bat 
talions. 

It  is  one  of  the  bright  days  of  latter  May,  when 
he  enters  a  spacious  old  Virginia  mansion  built  on 
a  terraced  hill,  looking  down  upon  the  rushing 
Rappahannock,  and  almost  into  the  streets  of  the 
ancient  city  of  Fredericksburg  on  the  opposite 
shore,  —  its  ample  halls  and  fair  gardens  very 
suggestive  of  a  former  state  of  things,  but  now 
abandoned  by  its  misguided  owner  to  the  tread  of 
strangers. 

Presently  the  streets  resound  to  the  tramp  of 
chargers  bearing  the  chief  of  the  republic,  and  the 
generals  and  officers  of  all  grades  who  surround 
him.  He  surveys  the  massive  columns  of  brave 
men,  who  move  by  with  measured  tread  to  the 


58  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

strains  of  martial  music.  The  pageant  is  over,  the 
President  departs,  the  soldier  returns  to  his  tent, 
and  the  old  town  to  its  slumbers,  not  to  be  dis 
turbed  again  by  the  unlooked-for  apparition  of 
Union  troops  until  young  Ulric  charges  through 
its  avenues,  saber  in  hand,  and  scatters  its  chivalry 
like  sea-drift  before  the  gale.  But  before  that  hour 
shall  come,  the  glorious  boy  shall  witness  other 
sights,  and  «shall  see  the  tide  of  war  recoil  to  the 
very  portals  of  our  capital,  after  treading  many  a 
battle-field  himself. 

On  Saturday,  the  24th  of  May,  long  before  day 
light,  Captain  Dahlgren's  steamer,  bearing  the 
President,  reached  the  Navy  Yard  at  Washing 
ton.  Just  as  he  was  stepping  ashore,  a  mes 
senger  handed  him  a  telegraphic  dispatch.  No 
one  near  surmised  its  importance.  The  Pres 
ident  passed  to  the  carriage  in  waiting,  and  was 
driven  off. 

The  information  was  startling :  the  rebels,  elud 
ing  Fremont,  had  suddenly  concentrated  a  strong 
force  upon  General  Banks's  little  column,  severed 
his  communications,  and  were  moving  towards 
Harper's  Ferry. 

We  know  now  that  the  object  was  to  divert  the 
army  of  McDowell  from  joining  that  of  McClellan, 
and  that  the  rebels  had  learned  the  exposed  con 
dition  of  Harper's  Ferry,  and  the  lack  of  concen 
tration  along  its  approaches. 


HARPER'S  FERRY.  59 

Banks  was  surprised,  and  barely  able  to  effect  the 
escape  of  his  small  force  across  the  Potomac  at 
Williamsport;  while  Jackson,  foiled  in  this  respect, 
turned  his  advance  towards  Harper's  Ferry.  The 
proposed  object  was  speedily  effected,  and  Mc 
Dowell,  who  was  to  march  south  on  the  following 
Monday,  received  orders  to  move  towards  the 
valley,  whilst  Fremont  converged  towards  the 
same  quarter,  in  the  hope  of  cutting  off  Jackson's 
retreat. 

During  these  movements,  the  alarm  at  Harper's 
Ferry  was  increased  to  a  panic,  for  the  place  was 
totally  unprepared  to  meet  the  emergency.  The 
War  Department,  however,  sent  forward  strong 
reinforcements  and  abundant  supplies.  The  Navy 
Department  also  contributed  its  aid,  in  the  shape 
of  some  heavy  cannon,  and  a  battery  of  navy 
howitzers  manned  by  a  body  of  select  seamen 
and  in  charge  of  two  very  young  men:  one 
was  Acting  Master  Daniels;  the  other,  Ulric 
Dahlgren. 

The  calm  of  a  quiet  Sabbath  rested  on  the  busy 
workshops  of  the  Navy  Yard;  and  it  was  only  about 
its  ordnance  department  that  a  few  lingered  to  meet 
some  pressing  demands  which  would  brook  no 
delay.  Unusual  tranquillity  reigned  in  the  city, 
for  the  tide  of  war  had  been  rolled  far  away,  until 
it  came  in  view  of  the  spires  of  Richmond  itself. 


60  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

Ulric  and  his  father  had  both  left  the  Navy  Yard,  to 
spend  the  day  peacefully  at  the  sanctuary  and  at 
home. 

Suddenly  comes  the  brief  query  by  telegraph  to 
the  commandant  of  the  Yard, — "  Can  you  send  any 
howitzers  to  Harpet  ys  Ferry  ?"  To  which  was  returned 
the  prompt  reply, — "  Yes;  and  some  heavy  camion'' 
Forth  goes  the  order,  and,  without  the  least  delay, 
the  artillery,  large  and  small,  with  all  their  appli 
ances,  are  dragged  through  the  quaint  old  gateway, 
accompanied  by  a  party — not  large,  but  choice — of 
veteran  seamen.  Like  the  Guard,  they  are  only 
summoned  into  active  service  upon  great  emergen 
cies, — for  their  labors  are  needed  in  the  work  of 
preparation. 

By  the  evening  the  whole  detachment,  cannon, 
howitzers,  and  ammunition,  and  men,  young  and 
old,  are  borne  swiftly  on  the  rail-cars  towards  Har 
per's  Ferry,  which  they  reach  early  on  Monday 
morning,  just  as  several  regiments  are  arriving. 
General  Saxton  is  in  command. 

The  cannon  and  the  seamen  have  the  air  of  ser 
vice,  and  as  they  pass  along  are  cheered  by  parties 
of  soldiers.  But  it  will  be  no  child's  play  to  drag 
the  ponderous  nine-inch  gun  away  up  that  mountain 
side,  so  as  to  command  the  approaches  far  and  near. 
Much  hard  toil  will  it  need,  and  some  wit,  too  ;  but 
it  is  done  at  last,  and  the  labor  is  almost  forgotten 
in  the  pride  of  seeing  the  huge  pieces  ready  for 


HARPER'S  FERRY.  6 1 

action,  and  perched  some  two  thousand  feet*  above 
the  level  of  the  sea. 

Those  rugged  tars  know  what  they  can  do,  and 
how  to  do  it ;  they  have  a  pride,  too,  in  that  earnest, 
active  lad,  young  Ulric,  for  they  know  him,  he  is 
one  of  them,  and  has  almost  grown  up  among  them. 
That  hearty  veteran  has  taught  him  to  swim, — 
another,  to  handle  the  oar, — and  all  have  seen  him 
over  and  over  again  looking  at  some  passage  in  their 
daily  toil,  and  as  deeply  interested  as  themselves 
in  its  success;  now  steering  the  cutter  which  their 
well-strung  sinews  are  driving  swiftly  over  the 
placid  stream,  or  intently  watching  them  handling 
the  heavy  cannon,  or  the  light  howitzer,  his  steady 
nerves  unstartled  by  the  crashing  din  that  jars  all 
around  as  the  shot  issues  forth  in  living  flame. 
Nor  is  his  own  hand  wanting  where  it  can  serve. 
There  is  not  a  gun,  old  or  new,  smooth  or  rifled, 
that  he  has  not  seen  tried  in  every  quality,  and 

*  "  U.  S.  Military  Telegraph,  from  Harper's  Ferry, 

ii  A.M.  May  27,  1862. 
"  To  CAPTAIN  DAHLGREN. 

"  SIR, — I  have  arrived  and  reported  in  obedience  to  orders. 
The  nine-inch  gun  is  stationed  on  the  heights  opposite  Harper's 
Ferry,  and  over  two  thousand  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea.  The 
howitzer  battery  has  not,  as  yet,  been  assigned  to  any  place,  but 
expect  it  to  move  with  the  army. 

"  Very  respectfully, 

"  C.  H.  DANIELS, 
"  Commanding  Naval  Battery  " 

6 


62  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

adjudged ;  and  so,  also,  with  shot,  and  shell,  and 
fuses,  in  every  variety  that  genius  or  caprice  can 
conceive.  This  is  the  sailor's  vocation,  with  which 
he  is  so  familiar,  while  they  are  strangers  to  much 
that  he  is  gleaning  in  silent  study  from  black- 
lettered  books,  rich  with  the  knowledge  of  others. 

They  know,  too,  that  he  is  a  brave  boy,  who 
never  falters  at  anything,  and  yet  no  braggart,  but 
modest  and  gentle  as  a  girl;  with  never  an  unkind 
word  for  the  humblest  of  them,  but  always  their  fast 
friend.  Happily,  they  see  not  into  the  future,  and 
therefore  are  unconscious  that  other  duties  to  their 
young  companion  are  to  be  rendered.  They  will 
carry  him  some  day  on  his  weary  litter,  wounded, 
from  the  battle-field,  will  look  on  his  mutilated  form, 
will  give  kind  and  gentle  aid  to  the  sufferer  during 
the  vigils  of  many  a  long  night,  and  bear  witness 
in  their  own  hearts  to  the  unvarying  nobleness  of 
his  young  nature.  So  the  rough  old  seamen  love 
the  boy  whom  they  have  seen  shoot  up  almost  to 
manhood,  and  have  that  feeling  for  him  which  none 
but  such  as  they  can  have  for  a  young  comrade. 

And  thus  the  little  band,  though  suddenly 
brought  together,  contained  all  the  elements  of 
strength  and  ready  assimilation.  The  naval  bat 
tery  did  good  work  when  called  upon,  and  every 
man  was  proud  of  it,  and  knew  that  the  general 
only  did  them  justice  when  he  recognized  their 
labors  in  his  official  report. 


HARPER'S  FERRY.  63 

For  two  days  General  Saxton  was  engaged  feel 
ing  in  every  direction  for  the  enemy,  and  his  skir 
mishers  did  not  go  far  without  having  assurance 
that  the  position  was  surrounded  by  a  strong  force, 
which  peeped  out  only  at  times  from  the  cover  of 
the  underwood.  Occasionally  the  rebel  skirmishers 
advanced,  and  then  firing  occurred. 

Late  on  the  29th,  Ulric  Dahlgren  was  sent  down 
to  Washington  to  obtain  additional  supplies  of  am 
munition.  The  evening  was  far  advanced  when  he 
arrived,  and  found  his  father  at  the  War  Depart 
ment,  in  the  private  office  of  the  Secretary,  where 
was  also  the  President,  occupied  with  the  informa 
tion  arriving  by  telegraph  from  the  armies.  What 
the  lad  had  to  say  was  of  interest,  and  was  clearly 
narrated,  both  to  the  President  and  to  Secretary 
Stanton. 

As  he  was  passing  out,  the  latter,  in  his  brief  and 
emphatic  manner,  tendered  Ulric  an  appointment 
as  additional  aide-de-camp,  with  the  rank  of  captain. 
The  unexpected  favor  was  promptly  received,  with 
every  mark  of  satisfaction  and  gratitude.  Late  as 
it  was,  the  indefatigable  Adjutant-General  was  still 
at  his  post  in  another  part  of  the  building ;  so  the 
necessary  documents  were  made  out  at  once,  and  the 
delighted  Ulric  was  duly  sworn,  and  left  the  War 
Department  with  all  the  newly-acquired  honors  of 
a  captain, — more  valued,  perhaps,  at  his  age  (just 
twenty),  than  those  of  any  rank  afterwards  attained. 


64  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

The  next  morning  be  was  early  on  his  way  back, 
in  the  full  uniform  of  his  new  position ;  which  he 
had  obtained  at  the  no  small  discomfort  of  some 
unlucky  tailor,  whose  hours  of  rest  had  been  broken 
to  meet  the  sudden  demand  of  one  who  always  went 
earnestly  and  promptly  to  his  end,  whatever  it  might 
be.  He  arrived  just  in  time  to  take  part  in  the  final 
repulse  of  the  rebels  from  Harper's  Ferry. 

General  Saxton,  anticipating  an  attempt  to  out 
flank  him,  had  drawn  in  his  force  on  Bolivar 
Heights,  and  concentrated  it  about  the  Maryland 
Heights,  where  his  heavy  guns  were  posted.  The 
skirmishers  on  both  sides  were  frequently  engaged, 
and  once  the  rebels  came  on  so  persistently  that 
Saxton  drew  in  even  his  pickets,  so  as  to  let  his 
guns  have  fair  sweep.  Captain  Ulric  was  out 
gathering  in  our  skirmishers,  when  the  rebels 
opened  with  shell,  some  of  which  burst  quite  near 
enough  to  him,  but  without  disturbing  his  com 
posure,  which  was  too  natural  to  need  even  the 
baptism  of  battle. 

The  day  closed,  and  our  weary  men  had  lain 
down  to  rest  near  their  arms,  with  little  expec 
tation  of  being  disturbed;  for  the  heavy  storm 
which  had  been  looming  up  was  now  abroad  in  its 
fury.  The  mountains  were  shaken  by  the  crashing 
thunder,  the  sight  was  dazzled  by  the  vivid  light 
ning,  and  the  very  sluices  of  the  heavens  seemed 
opened.  Regardless  of  the  violence  of  the  tempest, 


HARPER'S  FERRY.  65 

the  rebels  advanced  to  carry  our  position.  Just  at 
the  right  moment  the  navy  nine-inch  guns  on  the 
Maryland  Heights  opened  fire,  and  their  bursting 
shells  announced  our  readiness  for  the  attack. 
Little  expecting  such  a  warm  reception  from  that 
quarter,  the  astonished  rebels  fell  back,  after  an 
effort  of  an  hour's  duration. 

About  midnight,  some  Louisiana  and  Mississippi 
regiments  were  hurled  at  our  lines,  but  in  vain ; 
and  they  quickly  withdrew.  The  next  morning  it 
was  found  that  the  enemy  had^retreated  by  way  of 
Charlestown.  They  were  gone,  indeed,  but  they 
had  accomplished  their  main  purpose ;  for  they 
had  compelled  McDowell  to  abandon  his  advance 
towards  Richmond  and  to  turn  off  in  their  pursuit 
to  Front  Royal. 

And  so,  suddenly  and  without  warning,  Ulric 
passed  from  civil  life  to  the  field,  and  rejoiced  in  all 
that  belonged  to  his  new  calling.  He  was  once 
more,  as  he  loved  to  be,  in  the  free  air  of  heaven, 
his  frame  invigorated  and  his  spirit  buoyant  with 
its  freshness.  Around  him  nature  displayed  her 
grandest  scenery  in  wild  sublimity.  For  here  the 
river  wound  its  way  among  the  rocky  bases  of  the 
great  mountains  that  rose  towering  to  the  heavens, 
just  as  they  appeared  of  old,  from  the  first  founda 
tions  of  the  earth ;  clad  in  the  primeval  forest,  and 
seamed  by  ravines  into  whose  deep  shadows  the 
light  of  day  goes  not ;  while  from  every  peak  and 

6* 


66  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

cliff  the  sunlight  glitters  in  fullest  blaze, — mount 
ain  after  mountain  crowding  in  every  variety  of 
tint  and  outline,  until  their  distant  blue  nearly 
blends  with  that  of  the  heavens. 

Who  can  tell  the  rapture  that  filled  the  swelling 
heart  of  the  noble  youth  as  his  steed  bore  him 
swiftly  over  the  winding  road,  or  toiled  with  sure 
foot  up  the  steep  ascent,  whence  the  delighted  eye 
wandered  over  every  form  of  hill  and  dale?  Well 
might  he  say,  as  he  gazed,  that  "  beautiful"  failed  to 
convey  the  idea, — thai  it  was  the  "sublime"  that  held 
his  soul  enrapt. 

General  Saxton,  having  so  creditably  acquitted 
himself  of  the  duty  assigned  him,  took  leave  for 
another  field,  and  handed  over  his  charge  to  Gen 
eral  Sigel.  Captain  Ulric,  preferring  to  remain, 
found  himself  on  the  staff  of  the  newly-arrived 
commander,  who  quickly  put  his  forces  in  motion 
to  follow  the  footsteps  of  the  retreating  rebels. 

The  thick  clouds  that  had  been  gathering  in  the 
mountains  broke  at  length  into  heavy  rain,  flood 
ing  the  roads  and  swelling  the  rills  into  torrents. 

But  Sigel  knew  that  no  time  was  to  be  lost  if 
pursuit  was  to  be  of  any  avail ;  and  so,  amid  all 
the  discomfort  of  deep  mud  and  drenched  gar 
ments,  his  columns  pushed  on;  the  young  captain 
heeding  as  little  as  the  hardiest  the  pelting  storm 
and  the  scanty  fare, — nights  without  sleep,  or  even 


HARPER'S  FERRY.  67 

a  spot  of  dry  earth  on  which  to  stretch  his  weaned 
limbs.  He  had  often  gone  through  more  incon 
venience  for  mere  pastime,  and  what  was  it  to  his 
elastic  sinews  now  that  so  noble  and  patriotic  an 
object  was  in  view  ?  So  he  patiently  marches  on, 
content  with  the  first  friendly  hearthstone  where  he 
may  wring  the  moisture  from  his  soaked  clothing, 
and  feel  as  light  and  as  satisfied  as  if  rain  and  wind 
had  not  touched  him. 

He  is  in  his  element,  and  begins  as  he  ivill  end, 
alicad  ivitJi  Ids  troopers, — now  searching  Smithfield 
for  a  rebel  flag,  and  then,  with  willing  spirits  ready 
for  any  adventure,  in  quest  of  some  rebel  officers. 
But  pursuit  has  its  termination  as  well  as  battle, 
and  when  Winchester  is  reached,  Sigel's  corps,  re 
duced  in  number  and  in  ill  condition,  must  pause 
and  act  as  a  reserve. 

For,  on  the  6th  of  June,  Fremont,  in  trying  to 
stop  Jackson,  has  reached  Harrisonburg,  and  on 
the  8th  has  overtaken  his  rear  at  Cross  Keys,  and 
handled  it  roughly;  but  the  next  day,  Shields, 
anxious  to  have  a  hand  in  the  fray,  besets  the 
retreating  enemy  with  too  little  force,  and  suffers 
severely. 

On  the  1 2th,  Fremont  has  got  as  far  down  the 
valley  as  Mount  Jackson  ;  but  the  rebel  force  is 
now  out  of  reach ;  and  so  ends  for  the  present  the 
advance  of  our  own  divided  columns.  The  march 
of  the  First  Corps  is  arrested,  therefore,  at  Win- 


68  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

Chester,  where  Sigel  is  to  put  it  into  good  condi 
tion  for  the  campaign. 

Meanwhile  his  aide  rides  around  the  neighbor 
hood,  and- explores  every  road  and  pass,  which  is 
soon  done,  and  he  is  threatened  with  idle  time.  To 
avoid  this,  he  bethinks  him  of  the  ordnance  of  the 
corps,  and  interests  himself  in  finding  out  what  it 
is  and  what  it  needs.  The  general,  who  is  an 
artillerist,  is  not  unwilling  that  the  spare  time  of 
Captain  Ulric  should  be  given  in  this  direction. 
The  guns  are  soon  put  through  an  inspection, 
every  detail  is  carefully  examined,  and  then  they 
are  dragged  out  to  try  the  ammunition,  and  the 
shells,  and  the  fuses ;  a  practice-ground  is  impro 
vised,  and  the  ranges  are  determined  by  an  off-hand 
imitation  of  what  the  captain  was  so  familiar  with 
in  his  father's  department.  Next  comes  a  lengthy 
and  critical  report,  which  is  appreciated  by  the 
general. 

On  the  23d  June  the  First  Corps  was  marched 
to  Middletown  by  way  of  Front  Royal;  and  here 
Ulric  writes  his  father  that  he  thinks  the  horse 
which  he  has  just  bought  for  him,  and  which  he 
admires  very  much,  may  prove  too  young  to  stand 
all  his  riding,  which  requires  two  or  three  horses; 
that  it  needs  some  training,  too,  which  he  proposes 
to  enter  upon  at  once,  as  he  has  pretty  fully  dis 
posed  of  all  his  ordnance  cares. 

Ulric  was  a  graceful  and  skillful  rider,  and  had  a 


HARPERS  FERRY.  69 

perfect  passion  for  horses  from  his  early  childhood. 
If  he  had  been  given  to  many  words,  he  might 
perhaps  have  said  as  much  for  the  horse  as  did  the 
emperor's  esquire,  Pughliano,  in  his  stable,  of  whom 
Sir  Philip  Sidney  writes  (1573):  "Then  would  he 
adde  certaine  praises,  by  telling  what  a  peerless 
beast  the  horse  was,  the  only  serviceable  courtier 
without  flattery,  the  beast  of  most  beauty,  faithful- 
nesse,  courage,  and  such  more,  that  if  I  had  not 
bin  a  peece  of  a  logician  before  I  came  to  him,  I 
think  he  would  have  perswaded  me  to  have  wished 
myself  a  horse." 

It  was  interesting  to  observe  his  wonderful  tact 
in  managing  horses.  There  was  none  of  the  osten 
tatious  parade  of  a  jockey,  but  a  quiet  way  of 
bringing  himself  in  contact  with  the  animal  by 
passing  his  hand  kindly  and  softly  about  the  head 
and  neck  and  shoulders,  and  carefully  avoiding 
whatever  was  sensitive;  so  that  the  horse  seemed 
to  recognize  the  friendly  touch,  and  the  most 
restive  found  him  mounted  before  there  was  a 
chance  for  rebelling. 

Captain  Ulric  was  not  merely  a  graceful  horse 
man,  but  could  also  withstand  any  amount  of  hard 
riding,  and  had  wonderful  endurance,  as  he  proved 
on  many  occasions,  such  as  his  ride  from  Falmouth 
with  orders  to  Sigel,  then  at  Dumfries;  a  distance, 
by  the  road,  of  nearly  twenty  miles,  which  he  ac 
complished  in  about  two  hours,  and  returned  by 


70  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

five  o'clock  next  morning,  traveling  more  than 
fifty  miles,  after  having  been  in  the  battle  the  pre 
ceding  day. 

In  his  last  service  to  Richmond  he  was  almost 
continuously  in  the  saddle  for  three  days  and  nights, 
showing  less  fatigue  than  most  of  those  around 
him,  though  he  had  lost  a  leg  and  was  still  re 
duced  in  strength  from  the  effects  of  the  wound. 

Captain  Ulric  was  thus  fitting  himself  for  service 
at  hand,  while  the  forces  of  Fremont,  Banks,  and 
McDowell  were  consolidating  into  one  army  under 
General  Pope,  styled  the  Army  of  Virginia, — a 
very  necessary  measure,  for  the  division  of  com 
mands  had  worked  badly,  and  was  justly  con 
sidered  as  chargeable  with  the  ill  success  of  the 
attempt  to  repel  Jackson's  raid  through  the  valley. 

June  29,  he  writes  that  he  is  still  busy  with 
artillery  matters,  adding,  "We  are  between  Middle- 
town  and  Strasburg,  and  are  looking  for  Jackson 
in  every  direction,  but  cannot  find  him."  He 
concludes  with  the  remark,  "  There  will  soon  be 
something  heard  from  him,  either  here  or  at  Rich 
mond'' 

Well  judged,  young  captain  !  At  that  very  time 
he  was  heard  from,  and  where  it  was  least  con 
venient, — on  McClellan's  right  flank  at  Richmond. 

During  the  month  of  July,  the  Army  of  Virginia 
was  chiefly  occupied  in  getting  into  good  condition, 
though  there  were  several  small  affairs  between 


HARPERS  FERRY.  7! 

advanced  parties  on  both  sides, — at  Culpepper, 
Gordonsville,  Orange  Court  House,  and  North 
Anna.  But  all  attention  was  drawn  to  the  vicinity 
of  Richmond,  where  the  rebels  had  succeeded  in 
forcing  McClellan  back  on  James  River  and  were 
then  employed  in  watching  his  movements. 

On  the  26th  July,  Sigel  occupied  Madison  Court 
House,  with  the  First  Connecticut  Cavalry.  Once 
only  during  this  month  (on  the  1 7th)  was  Ulric 
in  Washington,  and  then  in  order  to  procure  am 
munition  for  the  corps.  He  was  now  in  fine  health 
and  spirits;  for  the  life  he  led  was  well  adapted  to 
the  development  of  both, — ever  active,  sleeping 
and  eating  wherever  the  night  found  him,  and 
invigorated  by  the  bracing  mountain  air. 


CHAPTER    IV. 

CAMPAIGN    WITH    THE    ARMY    OF   VIRGINIA,   JULY   TO 
NOVEMBER,     1 862. 

THE  month  of  July,  1862,  seemed  to  be  a 
period  of  inaction  with  both  parties;  whereas 
it  was,  in  fact,  a  season  in  which  each  was  prepar 
ing  for  a  decisive  blow,  and  vigilantly  observing  the 
movements  of  the  other,  in  order  to  regulate  thereby 
his  own.  The  rebels  had  the  advantage  of  a  united 
army  on  a  single  interior  line,  while  the  Union 
forces  were  divided  into  two  armies,  separated  by  a 
considerable  distance, — not  in  communication,  and 
not  to  be  connected,  except  by  a  circuitous  route 
involving  delay  and  danger. 

So  long  as  McClellan  actively  menaced  Rich 
mond  from  the  James  River,  Pope  was  undisturbed 
in  the  concentration  and  reorganization  of  the  scat 
tered  columns  in  Northern  Virginia.  But  as  soon 
as  McClellan  seemed  unable  to  advance,  the  rebels 
were  felt  by  Pope  to  be  in  force  in  his  front ;  and 
the  withdrawal  of  the  Union  army  from  the  James 
River  was  the  signal  for  the  rebels  to  move  forward 
promptly  and  in  full  force  upon  Washington. 


WITH  THE  ARMY  OF   VIRGINIA. 


73 


On  the  29th  of  July,  General  Pope  left  Wash 
ington  and  arrived  at  Warrenton.  A  few  days 
previously,  Sigel  had  advanced  the  ist  Connecticut 
Cavalry  to  Madison  Court  House. 

On  the  3d  of  August,  General  McClellan  was 
ordered  to  withdraw  from  the  James  River. 

And  on  the  gth  of  August,  Jackson  again  struck 
at  Banks,  on  Cedar  Mountain. 

There  had  been  some  premonitions  through  the 
day  of  the  coming  blow,  but  the  evening  drew 
on  without  decided  appearances,  until  about  five 
o'clock,  when  the  rebel  infantry  advanced  in  force. 
Our  men  resisted  gallantly,  being  encouraged  by 
the  presence  and  example  of  their  general  (Banks), 
but  were  gradually  forced  back  by  superior  numbers. 

Sigel,  with  his  corps  (First),  was  at  Sperryville  on 
the  evening  of  the  8th  August  (Friday),  when  an 
orderly  rode  in  at  full  speed,  with  orders  to  march 
in  an  hour  by  way  of  Culpepper,  as  the  rebel  troops 
were  approaching. 

It  was  late,  however,  in  the  following  evening 
before  Sigel  reached  the  ground,  when  his  corps 
was  pushed  to  the  front,  and  that  of  Banks  with 
drawn,  much  weakened  by  its  severe  losses. 

About  this  time,  the  enemy,  finding  that  fresh 
troops  were  coming  against  him,  drew  off  in  the 
obscurity  of  the  night.  Captain  Dahlgren  had  been 
able  to  precede  the  march  of  the  wearied  infantry 
of  the  corps  by  a  few  hours,  and  reached  the  scene 

7 


74  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

of  action,  as  he  writes,  "  in  time  to  go  through 
the  battle.  During  the  night,  a  rebel  battery  having 
moved  out  against  us,  I  asked  permission  to  drive 
it  away,  which  was  most  effectually  done.  General 
Sigel  complimented  me  on  the  battle-field  next 
morning." 

In  a  subsequent  letter,  he  makes  more  particular 
mention  of  this  little  incident,  in  the  following 
words : 

"  The  annexed  sketch  will  show  the  nature  of 
the  country,  and  relative  position  of  our  batteries 
with  theirs. 

"  The  battle  was  fought  near  the  mountain,  the 
position  of  General  Banks's  corps  being  very  nearly 
as  marked  on  the  sketch  a,  a,  a,  etc.  About  dark, 
they  fell  back  behind  the  line  of  woods  marked  b, 
and  still  later,  behind  the  ridge  marked  c,  c' ,  leaving 
nothing  between  this  ridge,  which  was  occupied  by 
our  artillery,  and  the  woods  b.  General  Sigel's 
corps  had  come  up  and  occupied  the  ground  d,  d1 ', 
General  McDowell's  being  near  that  marked  e,  e. 
Captain  Reynolds's  battery  was  at  ft  and  a  New 
York  battery  at  g. 

"  General  Sigel,  with  his  staff,  rode  down  the 
road  towards  the  woods  b,  and  when  within  four  or 
five  hundred  yards  of  it,  a  battery,  which  the  rebels 
had  advanced  on  the  road  through  the  woods, 
commenced  firing  from  a  small  hill,  marked  m, 
at  General  McDowell's  batteries  c' ',  c't  which  was 


WITH  THE  ARMY  OF  VIRGINIA.          75 


76  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

briskly  replied  to  by  them  (the  line  of  fire  being 
represented  by  ;;/ — r');  I  should  judge  the  distance 
to  have  been  about  thirteen  or  fourteen  hundred 
yards  at  least. 

"  I  immediately  asked  permission  to  bring  one 
of  our  batteries  to  the  point  c,  where,  at  a  distance 
of  seven  or  eight  hundred  yards,  we  could  enfilade 
the  rebels.  The  request  being  granted,  I  could  not 
find  any  of  our  batteries  near  enough,  and  therefore 
placed  the  battery  g  at  c,  and  then  sighted  each  gun 
myself,  and  gave  the  order  to  fire  by  section  ;  which 
being  done,  the  rebel  battery  ceased  firing  and  re 
treated  through  the  woods,  leaving  the  captain,  a 
lieutenant,  and  fourteen  horses  dead  on  the  hill. 
On  examination  in  the  morning,  all  the  shots  were 
proved,  by  the  wounds  of  men  and  horses,  to  have 
come  from  the  direction  ;;/ — c,  and  were  those  of 
rifled  three-inch  guns.  Many  twelve-pound  shot 
and  shell  were  found  in  the  neighborhood;  but  all 
those  persons  who  examined  the  spot  agreed  on 
this  point :  that  the  battery  g  did  all  the  damage 
that  was  done,  and  forced  the  rebels  to  leave  their 
position.  Those  who  observed  the  relative  posi 
tion  of  the  batteries  came  to  the  same  conclusion. 

On  the  1 6th  of  August,  the  last  of  our  men  left 
James  River;  and  Richmond  being  thus  relieved 
of  all  fear,  the  rebel  leaders  lost  no  time  in  turning 
their  entire  army  on  Pope.  He  lay  along  the 
Rapidan,  in  position,  about  the  I2th  of  August, 


WITH  THE  ARMY  OF   VIRGINIA. 


77 


with  his  left,  under  Reno,  at  Raccoon  Ford;  the 
center,  under  McDowell,  occupying  both  flanks  of 
Cedar  Mountain;  and  Sigel's  corps,  as  his  extreme 
right,  at  Robertson's  Run.  Information  from  many 
sources  began  to  reach  him  that  Jackson  was  being 
largely  reinforced  from  Richmond. 

On  the  1 6th,  his  cavalry  captured  Stuart's  adju 
tant-general,  with  a  letter  on  his  person  from  Gen 
eral  Lee,  showing  the  force  of  the  rebels,  and  the 
intention  to  overwhelm  General  Pope  before  the 
army  of  McClellan  could  reinforce  him.  On  the 
1 8th  of  August,  Pope  was  satisfied  by  several  indi 
cations  that  the  entire  rebel  army  was  in  front  of 
him,  and  only  separated  by  the  river.  He  wisely 
judged  his  position  too  advanced  for  bis  inferior 
force,  and  decided  to  withdraw  behind  the  Rappa- 
hannock  with  all  possible  speed ;  which  was  effected, 
without  molestation,  on  the  i8th  and  iQth, — Sigel 
crossing  at  Sulphur  Springs.  Our  army  now  lay 
behind  the  Rappahannock,  with  Sigel  on  the  right, 
about  three  miles  above  Rappahannock  Station, 
and  the  left  at  Kelly's  Ford.* 

The  enemy  advanced  to  the  river,  and  felt  the 
several  fords.  During  the  whole  of  the  2 1st  and 
22d,  there  was  an  incessant  blaze  of  artillery  from 
both  sides  of  the  river  along  a  distance  of  seven  or 
eight  miles;  during  which,  vigorous  efforts  were 

*  Swinton,  176. 

7* 


78  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

made  by  the  enemy  to  cross.  But  they  were  as 
often  driven  back;  and  General  Sigel  even  took  the 
offensive  at  Freeman's  Ford,  and  followed  with 
the  division  of  Schurz.  The  rebels  concentrated 
in  force,  when  an  obstinate  action  ensued;  and  our 
men  were  finally  pushed  back,  losing  General  Boh- 
len.  On  this  occasion  Captain  Dahlgren  was  use 
ful  in  assisting  to  cover  the  repassage  of  the  river 
by  our  troops,  under  an  annoying  artillery  fire. 
He  so  placed  a  battery,  and  cut  a  line  through  the 
woods  for  its  fire,  as  to  enfilade  the  guns  of  the 
enemy,  and,  opening  from  this  unexpected  quarter, 
compelled  them  to  retire. 

Finding  it  impossible  to  force  the  passage  of  the 
Rappahannock,  the  enemy  left  a  portion  of  his 
army  in  our  front,  and  moved  the  remainder  up  the 
river,  intending  to  outflank  our  right.  But  this 
was  prevented  for  the  time  by  a  corresponding 
move  on  the  part  of  General  Sigel,  who  advanced 
towards  Sulphur  Springs,  and  encountered  the 
rebels  about  two  miles  from  that  place,  at  Great 
Run,  driving  them  back  over  it.  He  then  crossed 
the  run,  and  occupied  Sulphur  Springs  under  a 
heavy  fire  of  artillery.  In  the  course  of  these 
operations,  General  Sigel  put  Captain  Dahlgren  in 
charge  of  a  regiment  of  infantry  and  two  guns, 
with  directions  to  harass  the  enemy's  left,  and  out 
flank  it  if  possible.  The  young  aide,  after  a  hard 
and  rapid  march,  succeeded  in  coming  into  contact 


WITH  THE  ARMY  OF   VIRGINIA. 


79 


with  the  enemy,  whom  he  attacked,  and  silenced 
their  battery;  but  the  night  coming  on,  they  took 
advantage  of  it  to  retreat  over  the  run.  The  move 
ment  had  the  desired  effect,  and  was  "  executed  to 
the  full  satisfaction  of  the  general;"*  who  adds, 
"  Captain  Dahlgren's  services,  generally,  on  the  line 
of  the  Rappahannock,  where  he  was  continuously 
engaged  in  meeting  the  enemy's  batteries  with  our 
own,  to  facilitate  thereby  the  march  of  our  troops  and 
trains  alongside  of  the  river,  were  most  valuable'' 

The  enemy  continued  to  manoeuvre  around  our 
right,  and  gradually  accomplished  his  purpose  of 
outflanking  in  that  direction.  On  the  25th,  he 
reached  Salem  by  a  forced  march  of  thirty-five 
miles,  and  next  day  passed  through  Thoroughfare 
Gap,  reaching  Bristow  Station  of  the  railroad  by 
sunset. 

The  quick  perception  of  the  commander  of  the 
First  Corps  kept  him  fully  alive  to  the  design  of 
the  enemy,  as  his  official  report  shows.  On  the 
2/th,  the  Union  army  was  swinging  round  to  meet 
the  new  position  of  the  enemy,  and  battle  was 
evidently  becoming  imminent. 

But  these  seemingly  interminable  and  fruitless 
efforts  to  intercept  the  enemy's  advance  were  be 
ginning  to  wear  heavily  on  the  moral  and  physical 
condition  of  our  men.  The  commanding  general 

*  General  Sigel, — private  letter. 


8o  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

states  that  from  the  iSth  to  the  2/th,  they  "had 
been  continuously  marching  and  fighting,  night 
and  day;  and  during  the  whole  of  that  time  there 
was  scarcely  an  interval  of  an  hour  without  the 
roar  of  artillery.  The  men  had  had  little  sleep, 
were  greatly  worn  down  with  fatigue,  had  had  little 
time  to  get  proper  food  or  to  eat  it,  had  been  en 
gaged  in  constant  battles  and  skirmishes,  and  had 
performed  services  laborious,  dangerous,  and  ex 
cessive  beyond  any  previous  experience  in  this 
country."* 

Ulric  Dahlgren  no  doubt  shared  in  the  fatiguing 
effects  of  such  service;  but  however  severely  it 
must  have  taxed  his  physical  powers,  his  elastic 
spirit  was  unquelled.  Writing  on  the  26th,  he 
says,  "/  am  nearly  zvorn  out, — going  day  and  night'' 
But  he  adds  subsequently,  "/  am  determined  to  see 
the  matter  through, — Jackson  or  ourselves  whipped ; 
and  if  they  can  keep  us  supplied  with  ammunition 
we  will  fig] it  him  forever''  And  those  who  knew 
the  young  soldier  would  understand  that  this  was 
no  vain  vaunting,  but  only  the  expression  of  that 
earnestness  which  gave  such  emphasis  to  his  char 
acter.  Indeed,  he  could  contribute  but  little  to 
wards  the  great  end, — no  more  than  could  be 
compassed  by  the  indomitable  spirit  of  a  youth  of 
twenty ;  and  what  was  that  where  such  a  host  of 

*  Report  of  General  Pope  (i/). 


WITH  THE  ARMY  OF   VIRGINIA.         8 1 

distinguished  generals  and  brave  men  were  met  to 
stake  every  life,  if  need  be,  for  the  capita'!  ?  Truly 
very  little,  save  to  bear  an  honored,  and  not  alto 
gether  forgotten  place,  in  that  grand  concourse  of 
heroic  patriots.  But  the  painful  truth  is  not  to  be 
disguised, — at  last  our  gallant  army  is  outflanked, 
and  falls  back  just  in  time  to  escape  its  own  ruin, 
and  the  loss  of  Washington.  In  the  course  of  in 
cessant  battle  that  ensued,  this  narrative  naturally 
follows  the  fortunes  of  its  subject,  who  belongs  to 
the  First  Corps. 

On  the  28th,  being  near  Bull  Run,  General  Sigel 
was  ordered  to  "attack  the  enemy  vigorously" 
next  morning,  which  he  did  accordingly;  and  a 
desperate  battle  took  place,  which  raged  with  vio 
lence  for  four  hours,  Sigel  maintaining  his  ground 
stubbornly,  until  nearly  outflanked  by  superior 
forces.  Just  at  the  critical  moment  arrived  the 
gallant  Kearney,  with  Reno  and  Stevens,  followed 
by  Reynolds, — noble  leaders, — all  of  whom  shortly 
sealed  their  loyalty  with  their  lives.  Then  the 
enemy  renewed  the  combat  furiously  as  before, 
and  Hooker  reached  the  field, — about  2  P.M.  To 
wards  the  end  of  the  day,  King's  division  came 
on  the  ground,  and  soon  after  the  battle  of  Bull 
Run  ended,  seemingly  in  our  favor. 

Next  day  (Saturday,  August  30),  the  conflict  was 
renewed  on  Sigel's  left,  on  "Bald-headed  Hill." 
After  some  severe  fighting,  the  enemy,  in  over- 


82  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

whelming  numbers,  broke  in  on  our  left,  pressing 
the  First  Corps  heavily.  Desperate  was  the  con 
test  everywhere,  for  our  men,  though  worn  and 
wearied,  stood  their  ground.  All  was  in  vain;  and 
after  dark  a  retreat  was  ordered  as  necessary. 

On  Sunday,  Sigel  reached  Centreville,  and  took 
position  near  the  village.  Next  day  came  the 
battle  of  Chantilly,  where  we  lost  Kearney  and 
Stevens;  and  finally,  on  Tuesday,  the  2d  of  Sep 
tember,  General  Pope  fell  back  to  Fairfax,  his  ad 
vance  being  in  sight  of  Munson's  Hill ;  and  the 
army  was  safely  within  the  lines,  where  the  enemy 
dared  not  venture. 

In  all  this  melee  of  operations,  Ulric  Dahlgren 
did  the  part  assigned  him  with  his  wonted  zeal  and 
gallantry.  He  had  the  honor  of  standing  up  man 
fully  among  as  heroic  a  host  as  ever  sustained  the 
cause  of  a  country,  with  whom  to  be  present  in 
the  brunt  of  battle  was  honor  enough.  Speak 
ing  of  him,  General  Sigel  says,  "  At  the  battles  of 
Bull  Run  and  Groveton,  on  the  2gth  and  $oth  of 
August,  lie  was,  almost  without  interruption,  engaged 
in  planting  or  relieving  our  batteries,  under  the  most 
galling  fire  of  the  enemy'' 

And  thus  passed  away,  for  the  time,  the  danger 
that  menaced  the  Union  seat  of  government.  Its 
quiet  had  been  rudely  broken  as  soon  as  it  was 
known  that  Pope  was  retreating  before  the  rebel 
army;  for,  through  some  of  the  mysterious  and  un- 


WITH  THE  ARMY  OF   VIRGINIA.         83 

detected  agencies  by  which  intelligence  was  com 
municated,  it  was  felt  that  Lee  was  striking  at 
Washington.  But  soon  came  the  gathering  levies 
by  every  train  from  the  North,  and  the  streets  of 
Washington  resounded  with  the  clangor  of  the 
bands  and  the  tramp  of  regiments. 

As  the  army  began  to  draw  near  in  its  retreat, 
the  wounded  arrived  in  crowds,  and  at  last  help 
was  demanded  for  them  on  the  field  itself,  as  the 
unhurt  soldiers  were  only  just  able  to  provide  for 
themselves.  Anxiety  prevailed  everywhere  for  the 
stricken  and  suffering  wounded,  and  even  such 
clerks  as  could  be  spared  from  the  government 
offices  were  sent  to  assist  them. 

As  no  tidings  of  Captain  Dahlgren  had  been 
received,  his  elder  brother  repaired  to  the  field  to 
render  him  aid  in  case  he  was  wounded ;  but  the 
time  of  the  young  soldier  had  not  come.  Every 
where  on  the  field  of  battle,  no  bullet  had  reached 
him  yet;  and  he  was  soon  heard  of  in  various  ways, 
active  as  ever,  and  unscarred. 


84  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

INTERVAL  BETWEEN  POPE'S  CAMPAIGN  AND    THE 
RAID    INTO    FREDERICKSBURG. 

As  soon  as  the  Union  army  had  gained  the  lines 
of  Washington,  immediate  relief  from  the  pressure 
of  the  rebel  forces  was  experienced,  though  the 
reason  of  it  was  not  so  quickly  understood.  Two 
days  later  (3d  September),  the  enemy  had  disap 
peared  from  before  Washington,  and  then  it  was 
ascertained  from  various  sources  that  he  was  about 
to  cross  the  upper  Potomac  into  Maryland. 

It  was  on  this  day  that  Captairi  Ulric  first  re 
visited  his  home,  after  the  late  severe  and  disastrous 
campaign.  His  father  was  made  happy  by  seeing 
his  gallant  son  unexpectedly  enter  his  office  in  the 
Bureau  of  Ordnance.  He  was  thinned  indeed  by 
hardship  and  exposure,  soiled  with  the  dust  of  the 
march,  and  bronzed  by  the  fervent  rays  of  an 
August  sun ;  but  unhurt  and  in  vigorous  health. 
Of  course  there  was  much  to  tell  that  was  sad  and 
unwelcome,  yet  the  hopes  of  the  youth  were  un 
shaken,  and  his  spirit  unquelled. 

As  father  and  son  were  leaving  the  Navy  Depart 
ment  by  the  rear  door,  they  came  full  on  the 
President,  who  was  passing  from  the  War  Depart 
ment  to  the  White  House.  He  drew  them  aside 
into  the  entrance  of  the  War  Department,  and 
eagerly  questioned  Ulric  in  relation  to  the  events 
of  the  recent  battles.  Mr.  Lincoln  seemed  satisfied 


WITH  THE  ARMY  OF   VIRGINIA.         85 

with  the  statements  thus  received,  as  less  saddening 
than  others  which  were  current;  for,  as  yet,  the 
details  of  recent  operations  were  but  imperfectly 
known  even  at  headquarters. 

As  soon  as  it  was  certain  that  the  enemy  was  in 
motion  for  Maryland,  various  corps  of  our  army 
were  marched  in  that  direction.  General  SigeTs 
command,  much  reduced  by  battle  and  by  subse 
quent  detachments,  was  retained  in  position  near 
Fairfax,  to  guard  the  capital  and  the  roads  in  that 
direction,  which  afforded  a  good  opportunity  for 
recruiting  and  reorganizing  the  exhausted  corps. 

On  the  7th,  General  McClellan  left  Washington 
for  the  field.  On  the  I3th  and  I4th  of  September, 
he  came  into  contact  with  the  rebel  army  at  South 
Mountain,  in  Maryland,  and  the  dull  booming  of 
cannon,  which  reached  even  to  the  capital,  gave 
sure  token  of  fiercely-contested  battle,  though  the 
apprehension  seems  to  have  existed  in  Washington 
that  the  rebels  really  designed  to  attack  the  city. 

The  enemy  fell  back  from  South  Mountain  im 
mediately  after  the  battle,  and  took  post  at  Antietam, 
where  they  were  again  defeated  by  General  McClel 
lan  on  the  I /th  of  September,  and  compelled  to 
recross  the  Potomac,  which  they  effected  on  the 
night  of  the  i8th. 

It  was  at  this  juncture  that  our  patriotic  Presi 
dent,  with  that  intuitive  wisdom  that  marked  his 
character  and  his  measures,  announced  to  the 

8 


86  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

rebellious  States  the  terms  on  which  their  resist 
ance  to  lawful  authority  was  to  be  further  prose 
cuted  :  Freedom  to  all  slaves  in  the  States  which 
continued  in  rebellion  after  the  end  of  the  year. 

This  was  no  vindictive  or  unlawful  proceeding ; 
it  was  a  military  measure  adopted  by  the  constitu 
tional  Commander-in-Chief,  in  order  to  deprive  an 
unprovoked  insurrection  of  the  principal  means  to 
be  used  in  destroying  the  national  integrity.  And 
it  was  only  resorted  to  after  the  painful  experience 
that  nothing  else  would  so  effectually  serve  as  this 
blow  at  the  cause  and  instrument  of  the  rebellion. 
It  was  not  a  resolve  hastily  taken,  but  only  after  a 
sanguinary  struggle  of  more  than  a  year;  nor  was 
it  to  be  immediate  in  operation,  but  prospective  and 
contingent  upon  the  conduct  of  those  who  were 
most  concerned.  The  resistance  to  lawful  rule  was 
therefore  continued  by  the  leaders  and  people  of 
the  South,  with  a  full  knowledge  of  what  they 
staked  on  the  issue,  and  thus  in  effect  they  accepted 
the  measure  and  its  consequences. 

The  resolution  of  the  President  was  wisely  taken 
in  relation  to  events,  and  evinced  a  determination 
to  affix  the  responsibility  where  it  belonged ;  ex 
hibiting  a  consciousness  of  right,  and  of  power  to 
maintain  that  right,  unshaken  by  the  reverses  that 
had  so  lately  attended  our  arms. 

The  proclamation  rang  with  clarion  tone  through 
out  the  land  \  it  appealed  to  the  consciences  of  all 


WITH  THE  ARMY  OF   VIRGINIA.          87 

men,  at  home  and  abroad,  and  to  their  right  judg 
ment  against  an  unjust  and  needless  rebellion,  be 
gun  and  continued  to  sustain  a  monstrous  social 
evil;  while  it  bespoke  favor  for  our  resolve  to  strike 
down  and  abolish,  not  only  the  rebellion,  but  its 
cause. 

Finally,  it  pledged  the  Union  to  a  righteous 
policy,  and  was  responded  to ;  as  usual,  the  ex 
tremes  caviled  at  it, — on  one  hand,  that  it  went  not 
far  enough ;  and,  on  the  other,  that  it  went  too  far. 

Corresponding  with  the  advance  of  the  main 
army,  the  remnant  of  General  Sigel's  corps  was 
pushed  to  Centreville  on  the  22d  of  September. 

During  this  period,  Ulric  was  occasionally  sent 
to  Washington  on  military  business,  chiefly  in  re 
gard  to  ordnance  supplies  for  the  division,  as  he 
had  been  temporarily  charged  with  that  detail.  On 
one  occasion  he  came  into  the  naval  Bureau  of 
Ordnance,  while  General  Mansfield  was  conversing 
with  his  father,  and  replied  to  some  queries  which 
he  put  to  him.  A  few  days  afterwards,  this  gallant 
veteran  fell  at  Antietam. 

No  further  prospect  of  active  service  for  Sigel's 
corps  appeared  for  the  present,  as  it  was  now  con 
siderably  reduced  by  the  detachment  of  Milroy's 
brigade  to  Western  Virginia. 

General  Sigel,  himself  an  artillerist  of  European 
reputation,  had  so  often  occasion  to  notice  Captain 


88  ULR1C  DAHLGREN. 

Ulric's  capability  in  the  management  and  care  of 
his  batteries,  that  he  desired  to  make  him  chief  of 
artillery  of  the  corps  (now  the  Eleventh).  But,  for 
this  purpose,  it  was  necessary  he  should  be  a  major 
of  artillery,  while  the  rank  he  held  was  only  that  of 
captain.  General  Sigel  therefore  addressed  a  note 
to  the  Governor  of  Pennsylvania,  requesting  that 
such  an  appointment  might  be  made  in  one  of  the 
regiments  from  that  State,  then  in  the  Eleventh 
Corps.  He  spoke  of  his  aide  as  a  "young  officer  of 
merit  and  usefulness,  who  has  already  distinguished 
himself,  and  reflected  much  credit  on  the  service"  The 
application  was  indorsed  by  two  eminent  officers, 
who  had  known  him  well,  Admiral  Smith  and  Ad 
miral  Foote.  It  was  further  indorsed,  and  strongly, 
by  another  who  had  watched  his  career  with  inter 
est, — President  Lincoln.  But  some  difficulties  of 
routine  interposed,  and  the  appointment  was  not 
made. 

During  the  month  of  October  there  was  a  lull 
in  the  active  operations  of  the  field  ;  but  about  the 
close  of  the  month  our  army  began  to  cross  into 
Virginia,  and  during  the  first  week  in  November 
was  advanced  and  massed  near  Warrenton,  looking 
towards  Culpepper,  holding  several  gaps  of  the 
mountain-passes,  such  as  Thoroughfare,  Snicker's, 
Hopewell's,  etc. 

The  Eleventh  Corps  was  retained  in  position 
about  the  front  of  Washington,  while  parties  were 


WITH  THE  ARMY  OF   VIRGINIA.         89 

thrown  out  from  time  to  time  to  check  the  rebel 
skirmishers  and  control  the  communications.  With 
these  the  young  soldier  most  commonly  went,  not 
being  particular  as  to  the  exact  position  that  fell  to 
him,  provided  he  could  be  of  service.  Sometimes 
he  was  with  General  Stahl,  scouring  the  country 
in  every  direction,  hunting  out  the  roving  maraud 
ers  who  were  bent  on  pillage  and  plunder,  or  among 
the  mountain-gaps,  or  down  Bull  Run  Valley. 
Then,  again,  he  was  heard  of  skirmishing  at  Aldie 
and  Upperville,  then  in  combat  at  Warrenton ; 
another  time  at  Berryville,  breaking  up  some  camp 
of  the  enemy,  or  fighting  at  Gum  Creek  Church. 
On  one  occasion,  it  is  related  that,  riding  along  a 
solitary  road,  the  whizzing  of  bullets  near  his  person 
intimated  his  being  marked  by  some  predatory 
rifles,  and  slight  puffs  of  smoke  pointed  to  the  am 
bush  of  these  assassins.  At  such  times  it  is  dan 
gerous  to  pause ;  quick  as  thought  he  went  charging 
to  the  spot,  sword  in  hand,  followed  by  his  two 
orderlies,  and  visited  prompt  retribution  on  the 
dastardly  miscreants.  It  was,  no  doubt,  by  such 
hands  as  these  that  the  lamented  Lieutenant  Meigs 
afterwards  fell. 

This  course  of  Ulric  Dahlgren's  service  is  thus 
mentioned  by  his  general : 

"  When  the  First  (now  Eleventh)  Corps,  Army 
of  the  Potomac,  was  acting  as  a  corps  of  observa 
tion  before  the  defenses  of  Washington,  Captain 

8* 


90  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

Dahlgren  was  principally  active  in  outpost  duty, 
and  with  the  scouting-parties  of  our  cavalry.  To 
enumerate  the  great  distances  he  rode  by  day  arfd 
by  night,  the  engagements  in  which  he  participated, 
the  valuable  information  he  brought  in  from  his 
expeditions,  would,  of  itself,  fill  a  volume.  This 
outpost  and  scouting  service  were  the  most  excel 
lent  school  for  him ;  they  awakened  in  him  an 
almost  adventurous  spirit  of  enterprise,  and  prepared 
him  for  more  conspicuous  and  important  deeds." 

On  the  last  day  of  October,  Captain  Ulric  Dahl- 
-gren  left  for  Albany  with  a  request  from  his  general 
in  regard  to  the  filling  up  of  the  New  York  regi 
ments  of  the  corps;  and  in  transit  encountered  his 
father  in  New  York,  traveling  upon  some  ordnance 
business. 

On  the  5th  of  November  he  reached  Washing 
ton,  and  next  day  returned  to  the  camp. 

At  this  time  the  main  army  was  massed  near 
Warrenton,  with  the  van  of  the  enemy  immediately 
in  front,  near  Culpepper;  and  the  Eleventh  Corps 
was  distributed  at  New  Baltimore,  Gainesville,  and 
Thoroughfare  Gap,  "to  cover  the  left  flank  and 
the  rear  of  the  advancing  army  of  the  Potomac" 
(Sigel). 

On  the  ^th  of  November,  General  Burnside  re 
ceived  command  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  and 
decided  to  move  it  directly  by  way  of  Fredericks- 
burg. 


WITH  THE  ARMY  OF   VIRGINIA.         91 

A  reconnoissance  was  ordered,  by  General  Sigel, 
of  the  railroads,  and  of  the  hostile  force  in  that 
vi'cinity;  but  whether  it  originated  from  the  gen 
eral  headquarters  or  had  connection  with  the  pre 
vious  or  subsequent  plan  of  movement,  does  not 
appear. 

Ulric  Dahlgren  had  returned  from  the  North,  to 
the  headquarters  of  the  Eleventh  Corps,  on  Thurs 
day,  the  6th  of  November,  and  had  but  little  time 
to  look  around  him.  Then  were  to  follow  three 
days  replete  with  activity,  daring,  and  brilliant 
deeds.  They  were  to  mark  the  career,  and  to  fix 
the  standing,  of  one  of  the  most  youthful  soldiers 
of  the  Union. 


CHAPTER  V. 

THE  RIDE  INTO  FREDERICKSBURG,  NOVEMBER 

9,  1862. 

IT  was  early  on  a  bleak  November  morning  that 
Captain  Ulric  Dahlgren  was  apprised  by  the 
chief  of  staff,  that  General  Sigel  desired  him  to 
ascertain  what  force  the  rebels  then  had  in  Fred- 
ericksburg;  and  to  examine  the  condition  of  the 
railroad  from  that  place  to  Acquia  Creek,  as  well  as 
that  of  the  bridges  over  the  Potomac  and  Accakeck 
Creeks. 

For  the  performance  of  this  duty,  the  available 
force  of  the  general's  body-guard  was  put  under 
Captain  Dahlgren's  orders.  This  force  amounted 
to  only  sixty  men,  from  two  companies.  But  they 
were  good  men  and  true,  of  the  1st  Indiana  Cav 
alry,  officered  by  Captain  Sherra  and  Lieutenants 
Carr  and  Miller.  He  was  also  authorized  to  take 
one  hundred  men  from  the  6th  Ohio  Cavalry. 

By  nine  o'clock  the  little  command,  with  Mr. 
Brown  as  a  guide,  was  in  motion,  and  took  the 
road  for  Bristow  Station;  but  the  6th  Ohio  had 
moved  to  Catlett's,  and  there  the  reinforcement 


RIDE  INTO   FREDERICKSBURG. 


93 


was  obtained.  Leaving  Warrenton  Junction  late 
in  the  afternoon,  the  captain  proceeded  with  the 
1st  Indiana  to  strike  the  Fredericksburg  road, 
directing  the  6th  Ohio  to  feed  and  overtake  him. 
The  party  passed  through  Weaversville,  and  about 
ten  o'clock  at  night  stopped  at  Dr.  Hooe's  for  an 
hour  or  two  to  feed  the  horses.  Before  leaving,  the 
road  was  barricaded,  in  order  to  inform  the  Ohio 
cavalry  where  the  command  had  turned  off  from 
it,  and  the  former  soon  after  came  up. 

With  the  view  of  escaping  notice,  Captain  Dahl- 
gren  avoided  the  main  road  as  much  as  possible, 
and,  in  consequence,  lost  the  right  direction;  and, 
as  if  to  increase  still  further  the  difficulty  of  a 
winter  night's  journey  through  a  wild  and  wooded 
country,  the  lowering  clouds  broke  into  a  heavy 
fall  of  snow,  which  lasted  until  daybreak,  and 
severely  tried  the  endurance  of  men  and  horses. 
The  road  lay  through  Bristerburg  and  Master's 
Mill,  but  being  hidden  by  the  snow,  was  lost  in 
the  obscurity  of  the  night;  and  no  alternative  re 
mained  but  to  follow  a  bridle-path  through  the 
forest,  which  seemed  to  take  the  required  direction, 
and  which  finally  led  the  party  to  Garrisonville, 
and  thence  on  to  Stafford  Court  House,  which 
was  reached  about  that  time  before  sunrise  when 
the  night  is  coldest.  It  bore  most  heavily  on  the 
jaded  troopers  and  their  horses.  Owing  to  this, 
and  to  repeatedly  missing  the  road,  it  was  half-past 


94  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

seven  when  Captain  Dahlgren  came  in  sight  of 
Falmouth,  instead  of  four  hours  sooner  as  he 
hoped,  which  would  have  enabled  him  to  capture 
the  cars  known  to  be  there  at  that  time.  But  the 
men  had  been  twenty-four  hours  in  the  saddle  with 
little  intermission,  and  with  their  wearied  horses 
had  borne  up  bravely  against  a  ride  of  nearly  fifty 
miles  during  the  most  inclement  weather;  and  he 
felt  that  he  had  done  his  best. 

The  light  of  the  rising  sun  was  just  dimly  visible 
through  the  murky  snow-clouds  that  slowly  yielded 
to  its  influence  as  the  little  band  of  horsemen,  in 
close  array,  approached  the  village.  An  officer 
suddenly  spurred  from  its  ranks,  followed  by  an 
orderly,  and,  galloping  along  the  descending  streets, 
drew  rein  on  the  bank  of  the  river.  His  quick  eye 
seemed  to  comprehend  the  situation  at  a  glance  as 
it  rested  upon  the  stream,  swollen  by  recent  rains 
and  snow,  and  dashing  in  mimic  waves  over  the 
customary  ford,  so  as  to  render  it  impracticable. 
Some  shivering  straggler  replied  to  his  hasty  de 
mand,  that  the  only  mode  of  crossing  then  was  by 
a  flat-boat,  which  would  contain  but  sixteen  men. 
Such  a  course  was  hardly  to  be  thought  of,  for  the 
division  of  this  small  party,  far  away  in  a  hostile 
country,  with  scarcely  a  chance  for  retreat,  seemed 
to  assure  its  destruction.  The  youthful  leader  1 
paused  thoughtfully,  as  if  pondering  upon  the  failure 
of  some  bright  hope,  then  summoned  the  guide  to 


RIDE  INTO  FREDERICKSBURG. 


95 


a  brief  consultation.  The  prompt  and  intelligent 
scrutiny  which  followed  soon  detected  a  spot  above 
the  burned  bridge  where,  upon  examination,  it  was 
found  that,  by  using  great  care,  a  passage  could 
possibly  be  effected. 

Just  at  the  moment  came  the  rumor  that  some 
rebel  infantry  were  crossing  near  the  railroad 
bridge  in  boats,  and  Captain  Dahlgren  ordered  a 
party  of  the  6th  Ohio  to  prevent  them;  but  the 
rumor  proved  to  be  false.  He  now  made  trial  of 
the  supposed  ford  by  crossing  himself  with  four 
carbineers,  and  posted  them  to  guard  the  passage, 
which,  proving  just  practicable,  he  ordered  the  1st 
Indiana  to  cross,  which  was  done,  promptly. 

More  than  an  hour  had  thus  been  spent,  and  it 
was  nearly  nine  o'clock;  and  though  all  was  as  yet 
well,  it  was  very  necessary  that  the  Union  soldiers 
should  do  quickly  whatever  they  had  to  do;  for 
the  rebels  had  become  aware  of  their  presence,  and 
were  gathering  in  the  town,  whilst  some  cavalry 
was  assembling  on  its  outskirts. 

The  evening  previous,  a  detachment  of  the  1 5th 
Virginia  Cavalry,  amounting  to  one  hundred  and 
fifty  men,  under  Captain  Simpson,  had  arrived; 
thus  increasing  the  force  already  in  Fredericksburg, 
under  Colonel  Crichton,  and  vastly  augmenting 
the  odds  against  the  small  body  of  Union  cavalry 
under  Ulric  Dahlgren.  He  says  in  a  private  mem 
orandum: 


96 


ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 


"  I  could  plainly  see  the  rebels  gathering  in  large 
crowds  in  the  city,  and  not  wishing  to  lose  time, 
as  delay  was  dangerous  should  we  give  them  a 
chance  to  collect,  I  ordered  Captain  Sherra  to  move 
forward,  which  he  did  at  a  walk,  not  wishing  to 
use  up  our  already  tired  horses,  but  sending  Lieu 
tenant  Carr  with  eight  men  ahead,  to  gallop  on  and 
see  where  the  enemy  were  mostly  concentrating ; 
he  had  not  gone  more  than  two  blocks,  when  he 
discovered  a  company*  formed  in  the  street,  at 
right  angles  to  that  up  which  we  were  passing 
(Main  Street),  ready  to  assail  our  flank  as  we  passed. 
Lieutenant  Carr  immediately  attacked  the  enemy 
with  his  men,  and  was  engaging  them  at  close  quar 
ters,  when  I  ordered  the  whole  Indiana  cavalry  to 
charge,  which  they  did  most  gallantly,  not  a  man 
wavering,  driving  the  enemy  before  them  through 
the  town  and  back  to  the  depot,  where  another 
company  was  discovered  in  the  yard,  just  mounting. 
Here  we  halted  and  engaged  them  with  our  re 
volvers,  they  using  shot-guns.  Finally,  we  captured 
some  thirty  of  this  party,  and  fifty  horses,  with  a 
rebel  flag,  which  we  gathered  together  and  put 
under  a  guard. 

"  Just  at  this  moment  I  saw  a  line  of  the  enemy 
formed  in  a  field  adjoining  the  town,  and  on 

*  Supposed  to  belong  to  Captain  Simpson's  command  (i5th 
Virginia). 


RIDE  INTO  FREDERICKSBURG. 


97 


the  road  leading  directly  back.  We  immediately 
started  for  this  last  party,  which  was  routed,  with 
several  killed  and  some  thirty  prisoners  taken,  after 
chasing  them  some  distance  out  of  the  town.* 

"  I  regret  to  say  that  at  this  time  Bob  Gapen  was 
killed;  he  had  previously  captured  the  rebel  flag  and 
several  prisoners.  His  conduct  was  most  gallant. 

"  I  now  discovered  that  the  rebels  had  collected 
another  large  detachment  in  the  town,  and  rescued 
the  thirty  prisoners  and  fifty  horses  which  had  been 
left  there  under  guard.  It  was  also  reported  that 
the  ford  was  in  their  possession,  and  that  another 
squadron  was  coming  to  the  town  from  below, 
which  was  plainly  visible." 

Captain  Dahlgren  therefore  ordered  the  command 
to  be  drawn  up  in  a  field  back  of  the  town,  and  sent 
a  party  to  examine  into  the  condition  of  things  at 
the  ford. 

He  had  now  pretty  effectually  carried  out  the 
orders  given  him,  to  ascertain  what  rebel  force  was 
in  Fredericksburg ;  and  it  remained  for  him  to 
proceed  in  execution  of  the  rest,  which  was  to 
reconnoitre  the  state  of  the  railroad  from  Fred 
ericksburg  to  Acquia. 

*  This  was  believed  to  belong  to  the  regiment  which,  Mr. 
Herndon  writes,  Colonel  Crichton  "  tried  very  hard  to  rally,  but 
without  success."  A  portion  of  it  afterwards  added  to  its  renown 
by  assisting  in  the  midnight  ambush  which  waylaid  Colonel  Dahl 
gren  and  so  atrociously  treated  his  remains. 

9 


98  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

The  memorandum  goes  on  to  say,  "After 
considering  the  matter  with  Captain  Sherra,  I  de 
termined  to  force  a  passage  by  the  way  we  had 
come,  which  I  was  confident  the  Indiana  cavalry 
could  do,  so  exultant  were  they  after  having  driven 
greatly  superior  numbers  in  a  hand-to-hand  contest. 

"  We  then  started  for  the  ford,  but,  on  reaching 
the  end  of  the  town,  found  the  rebels  in  a  large 
manufactory  on  the  side  of  the  road,  ready  to  fire 
upon  us  as  we  passed.  Halting  here,  I  gave  them 
to  understand  that  we  would  burn  the  place  if  fired 
upon  from  the  building,  and  then  quickly  passed 
without  receiving  a  shot.  Having  reached  the 
crossing,  we  passed  over  safely,  Lieutenant  Carr 
covering  with  a  detachment.  The  town  was  in 
great  excitement,  and  was  filled  with  rebels,  who 
could  be  seen  running  from  every  house  and 
stable,  etc. 

"  So  desperate  was  the  fight,  that  our  men  were, 
in  several  instances,  knocked  over  with  the  butts 
of  their  guns  by  the  rebels."  On  starting  for  the 
ford,  he  observes,  "  We  had  thirty-five  prisoners, 
twenty-six  horses,  and  two  wagon-loads  of  gray 
cloth  needed  for  the  rebel  army,  after  guarding 
which,  we  could  only  show  twenty  fighting-men." 

It  was  about  noon  when  Ulric  regained  the 
northern  bank  with  his  party.  He  then  reserved  a 
few  men  to  complete  the  reconnoissance,  and  directed 
the  remainder  of  his  command  to  return  to  head- 


RIDE  INTO  FREDERICKSBURG. 


99 


quarters  with  the  prisoners.  Following  the  rail 
road  to  Acquia,  he  came  suddenly  upon  the  rebel 
pickets  at  Brook's  Station,  and  made  them  pris 
oners.  They  had  been  thrown  out  by  the  force 
at  Fredericksburg,  and  were  not  expecting  such 
visitors  from  that  direction. 

Having  thoroughly  examined  the  road,  and  the 
bridges  over  Potomac  Creek  and  the  Accakeck, 
which  he  found  burned,  Captain  Dahlgren  retraced 
his  steps,  and  arrived  at  headquarters  on  the  evening 
of  the  loth,  having  traveled  one  hundred  miles  since 
he  started,  on  the  8th,  not  including  the  move 
ments  in  Fredericksburg.  He  was  received  by  all, 
from  the  general  down,  with  that  hearty  welcome 
to  which  his  skillful  and  daring  conduct  so  well 
entitled  him. 

There  are  three  different  accounts  of  this  exploit, 
which  it  may  be  of  interest  to  have  just  as  they, were 
written.  The  first  is  the  official  report  of  Ulric 
Dahlgren,  differing  in  no  material  respect  from  the 
preceding  narrative,  but  a  fair  sample  of  his  simple, 
straightforward  style.  It  was  published  in  the 
New  York  Herald,  and  other  newspapers,  soon  after 
the  occurrence  to  which  it  refers. 

The  second  is  a  brilliant  sketch  by  Carleton, 
the  correspondent  of  the  Boston  Journal,  from 
which  Mr.  Darley  conceived  his  fine  picture  of  the 
raid. 


100  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

The  third  is  part  of  a  letter  from  a  resident  of 
Fredericksburg  to  a  relative.  When  Burnside's 
troops  entered  the  town,  a  month  later,  it  was  found 
in  a  deserted  tenement,  and  was  transmitted  for 
perusal. 

OFFICIAL   REPORT. 

"HEADQUARTERS  ELEVENTH  CORPS,  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC, 

GAINESVILLE,  VA.,  Nov.  10,  1862. 
"MAJOR-GENERAL  F.  SIGEL,  commanding  Eleventh 

Army  Corps. 

"  GENERAL, — Agreeably  to  your  orders,  I  started 
from  Gainesville,  on  the  morning  of  the  8th  inst,  to 
Fredericksburg,  to  ascertain  the  force  of  the  enemy 
at  that  place,  and  then  to  examine  the  Acquia 
Creek  and  Fredericksburg  Railroad  on  the  return. 
I  left  Gainesville  with  sixty  men  of  the  1st  Indiana 
Cavalry,  General  Sigel's  body-guard,  and  went  to 
Bristow  Station  to  obtain  an  additional  force  of  one 
hundred  men  from  the  6th  Ohio  Cavalry ;  but,  rind 
ing  they  had  moved  to  Catlett's  Station,  I  went  to 
that  point,  where  we  found  them.  After  a  slight 
delay  in  preparing,  we  moved,  and  traveled  all  night, 
stopping  once  an  hour  or  so  to  feed  and  water  our 
horses.  We  arrived  at  Fredericksburg  at  half-past 
seven  A.M.  Although  our  object  was  to  be  there 
before  daylight,  it  was  impossible  to  do  so,  the  dis 
tance  being  too  great  and  the  roads  and  weather 
unfavorable.  At  Fredericksburg  I  found  the  river 
too  high  to  ford  at  the  regular  fording-places,  and, 


RIDE  INTO  FREDERICKSBURG.         IQI 

not  wishing  to  expose  my  men  by  crossing  them 

in  small  detachments  in  a  ferry-boat,  I  sent , 

your  scout,  to  find  some  place  where  we  could 
cross,  which  he  soon  discovered  above  the  bridge, 
among  the  rocks,  to  all  appearances  impassable ; 
but  at  which  place  we  managed  to  cross,  one  man 
at  a  time.  My  intention  was  to  send  the  1st  Indiana 
Cavalry  through  the  town,  while  the  6th  Ohio 
would  guard  the  crossing -place  and  secure  our 
retreat.  After  crossing  with  the  Indiana  cavalry 
under  Captain  Sherra,  I  could  plainly  see  the  rebels 
gathering  together  in  great  haste  to  meet  us,  and, 
not  wishing  to  give  them  time  to  collect,  started 
after  them  before  the  6th  Ohio  were  over,  leaving 
directions  for  them,  and  supposing  that  they  would 
be  over  by  the  time  I  would  fall  back,  if  necessary. 
"  We  found  the  city  full  of  soldiers,  who  were  al 
most  entirely  surprised,  and  made  many  prisoners, 
whom  we  sent  to  the  ford,  where  I  supposed  the 
6th  Ohio  to  be.  It  being  nearly  a  mile  from  Fal- 
mouth  through  Fredericksburg,  and  not  wishing 
to  run  my  horses  so  far,  I  sent  Lieutenant  Carr 
ahead  with  a  detachment,  to  dash  through  the  town 
and  see  where  the  enemy  were  concentrated.  Lieu 
tenant  Carr  gallantly  drove  several  detachments 
before  him  until  they  reached  the  main  body. 
Having  now  found  where  the  enemy  were  posted, 
I  ordered  Captain  Sherra  to  drive  them  away,  which 
he  did  in  the  most  effectual  and  gallant  manner, 
9* 


102  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

charging  a  much  larger  force  and  driving  them 
wherever  they  stood.  The  fighting  was  of  the 
most  desperate  nature;  our  men  using  their  sabers, 
and  the  enemy,  in  several  instances,  clubbing  our 
men  with  their  carbines.  While  the  fight  was 
going  on,  it  was  reported  to  me  that  the  enemy 
had  possession  of  the  ford,  the  6th  Ohio  not  having 
crossed  to  hold  it.  On  hearing  this,  I  ordered  our 
men  to  fall  back,  and,  after  a  few  moments'  consulta 
tion  with  Captain  Sherra, decided  to  force  a  passage; 
but  upon  reaching  the  ford  I  found  they  had  also 
left,  not  wishing  to  stand  another  charge.  After 
seeing  the  command  all  over  and  on  the  road  home, 
I  started,  with  twelve  men,  for  Acquia  Creek  to  ex 
amine  the  railroad  to  that  point,  which  we  found  in 
tolerable  condition,  excepting  the  bridges  over  the 
Potomac  and  Accakeck  Creeks,  which  were  burned. 
At  Accakeck  Creek  we  captured  the  enemy's  pickets 
of  four  men,  our  surprise  having  been  so  effectually 
accomplished  that  not  one  of  the  pickets  was  aware 
of  our  entering  Fredericksburg. 

"  The  enemy's  loss  was  considerable,  but  it  is 
impossible  to  state  the  exact  number.  I  know  of 
three  being  killed,  several  wounded,  and  thirty-nine 
prisoners.  Our  loss,  one  killed  and  four  missing. 
We  also  captured  four  wagon-loads  of  gray  cloth, 
about  to  be  sent  South.  The  enemy's  force  con 
sisted  of  five  companies  of  the  I5th  Virginia,  and 
three  companies  of  the  9th  Virginia. 


RIDE  INTO  FREDERICKSBURG.          103 

"I  have  the  honor  to  be,  with  great  respect, 
general, 

"Your  rr^>st  obedient  servant, 

"ULRIC  DAHLGREN, 
"  Captain  and  Aide-de-Camp" 

<^_ 

CARLETON'S  ACCOUNT.  FROM  THE  ARMY  OF  THE 
POTOMAC.  THE  UNION  DASH  INTO  FREDERICKS- 
BURG,  NOVEMBER  9,  1862.  A  BRILLIANT  CAVALRY 
EXPLOIT. 

"GAINESVILLE,  November  II,  1862. 

"  To  THE  EDITOR  OF  THE  BOSTON  JOURNAL  : 
"  I  am  sitting  in  Colonel  Ashboth's  tent,  at  Gen 
eral  Sigel's  headquarters,  listening  to  a  plain  state 
ment  of  what    occurred,  narrated   by   a   modest, 
unassuming  sergeant.     I  will  give  it  briefly. 

"  General  Burnside  had  requested  that  a  cavalry 
reconnoissance  of  Fredericksburg  should  be  made. 
General  Sigel  selected  his  body-guard,  commanded 
by  Captain  Dahlgren,  with  fifty-seven  of  the  1st 
Indiana  Cavalry.  It  was  no  light  task  to  ride  forty 
miles,  keep  the  movement  concealed  from  the 
enemy,  cross  the  river,  and  dash  through  the  town, 
— especially  as  it  was  known  that  the  rebels  occu 
pied  it  in  force;  it  was  an  enterprise  calculated  to 
dampen  the  ardor  of  most  men,  but  which  was 
hailed  almost  as  a  holiday  excursion  by  the  In- 
dianians.  They  left  Gainesville  Saturday  morning, 
took  a  circuitous  route,  rode  till  night,  rested 


104  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

awhile,  and  then,  under  the  light  of  the  full  moon, 
rode  rapidly  over  the  worn-out  fields  of  the  Old 
Dominion,  through  by-roads,  intending  to  dash 
into  the  town  at  daybreak.  They  arrived  opposite 
the  place  at  dawn,  and  found  to  their  chagrin  that 
one  element  in  their  calculation  had  been  omitted, 
— the  tide. 

"  The  bridge  had  been  burned  when  we  evacuated 
the  place  last  summer,  and  they  had  nothing  to  do 
but  wait  till  the  water  ebbed.  Concealing  them 
selves  in  the  woods,  they  waited  impatiently. 
Meanwhile,  two  of  the  Indianians  rode  along  the 
river-bank  below  the  town  to  the  ferry.  They 
hailed  the  ferryman,  who  was  on  the  opposite 
shore,  representing  themselves  to  be  rebel  officers. 
The  ferryman  pulled  to  the  northern  bank,  and 
was  detained  till  he  gave  information  of  the  rebel 
force,  which,  he  said,  numbered  eight  companies, — 
five  or  six  hundred  men  all  told. 

"The  tide  ebbed,  and  Captain  Dahlgren  left  his 
hiding-place  with  his  fifty-seven  Indianians.  They 
crossed  the  river  in  single  file  at  a  slow  walk,  the 
bottom  being  exceedingly  rocky.  Reaching  the 
opposite  shore,  he  started  at  a  slow  trot  towards 
the  town,  hoping  to  take  the  enemy  by  surprise. 
But  his  advance  had  been  discovered.  The  enemy 
was  partly  in  saddle.  There  was  a  hurrying  to  and 
fro,  mounting  of  steeds,  confusion,  and  fright  among 
the  people.  The  rebel  cavalry  were  in  every  street. 


RIDE  INTO  FREDERICKSBURG.         105 

Captain  Dahlgren  resolved  to  fall  upon  them  like 
a  thunderbolt.  Increasing  his  trot  to  a  gallop,  the 
fifty-seven  dauntless  men  dashed  into  town,  cheer 
ing,  with  sabers  glittering  in  the  sun, — riding  reck 
lessly  upon  the  enemy,  who  waited  but  a  moment 
in  the  main  street,  then  ignominiously  fled.  Hav 
ing  cleared  the  main  thoroughfare,  Captain  Dahl- 
gren  swept  through  a  cross -street  upon  another 
squadron  with  the  same  success.  There  was  a 
trampling  of  hoofs,  a  clattering  of  scabbards,  and 
the  sharp  ringing  cut  of  the  sabers,  the  pistol-flash, 
the  going  down  of  horse  and  rider,  the  gory  gashes 
of  the  saber-stroke,  a  cheering  and  hurrahing,  and 
screaming  of  frightened  women  and  children,  a 
short,  sharp,  decisive  contest,  and  the  town  was  in 
the  possession  of  the  gallant  men.  Once  the  rebels 
attempted  to  recover  what  they  had  lost,  but  a 
second  impetuous  charge  drove  them  back  again, 
and  Captain  Dahlgren  gathered  the  fruits  of  the 
victory, — thirty-one  prisoners,  horses,  accouter- 
ments,  sabers, — held  possession  of  the  town  for 
three  hours,  and  retired,  losing  but  one  of  his  glo 
rious  band  killed,  and  two  wounded;  leaving  a 
dozen  of  the  enemy  killed  and  wounded.  I  would 
like  to  give  the  names  of  these  heroes  if  I  had 
them.  The  one  brave  fellow  who  lost  his  life  had 
fought  through  all  the  conflict,  but  seeing  a  large 
rebel  flag  waving  from  a  building,  he  secured  it, 
wrapped  it  around  his  body,  and  was  returning  to 


106  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

his  command,  when  a  fatal  shot  was  fired  from  a 
window,  probably  by  a  citizen.  He  was  brought 
to  the  northern  shore,  and  there  buried  by  his 
fellow-soldiers  beneath  the  forest-pines. 

"  It  thrills  one  to  look  at  it, — to  hear  the  story, — 
to  picture  the  encounter;  the  wild  dash,  the  sweep 
like  a  whirlwind,  the  cheers,  the  rout  of  the  enemy, 
their  confusion,  the  victory!  Victory,  not  for  per 
sonal  glory,  nor  for  ambition,  but  for  a  beloved 
country, — for  that  which  is  dearer  than  life, — the 
thanks  of  the  living,  the  gratitude  of  unnumbered 
millions  yet  to  be !  Brave  sons  of  the  West,  this 
-is  your  glory;  this  your  reward!  No  exploit  of 
the  war  equals  it.  It  will  go  down  to  history  as 
one  of  the  bravest  achievements  on  record." 

EXTRACT  FROM  A  LETTER  WRITTEN  BY  A  RESI 
DENT  OF  FREDERICKSBURG. 

"  FREDERICKSBURG,  November  9,  1862. 

"DEAR  SETH, — 
******** 

"  We  have  had  a  most  exciting  day  out-of-doors. 
Last  evening,  about  dusk,  a  company  of  the  I5th 
Cavalry,  under  Captain  Simpson,  one  hundred  and 
fifty  strong,  arrived  here,  and  took  quarters  in  the 
lot  in  rear  of  the  Citizens'  Hall.  This  morning, 
about  half-past  eight  o'clock,  I  observed  a  stir 
among  them,  and  a  few  moments  afterwards  a  body 
of  Yankee  cavalry  dashed  up  the  street  by  Adam's 


RIDE  INTO  FREDERICKSBURG. 


ID/ 


stable  and  charged  upon  a  few  of  our  cavalry,  who 
had  mounted  and  got  out  of  the  lot  in  front  of  the 
hall.  They  of  course  retreated,  and  were  pursued 
by  the  Yankees  down  towards  the  depot,  leaving 
the  largest  portion  of  our  men  still  in  the  lot. 
They  commenced  firing  upon  our  men  soon  after 
they  passed  my  house,  but  did  no  damage  till  they 
got  down  to  Thos.  J.  Berry's  corner,  where  they 
killed  a  member  of  Simpson's  company,  named 
Walter  D.  Thompson,  from  Princess  Anne  County, 
who  is  stated  to  have  been  a  very  promising  young 
man.  As  soon  as  the  remaining  portion  of  Simp 
son's  company  could  get  out  of  the  lot,  they  were 
formed,  and  dashed  down  towards  the  depot  in 
pursuit,  and  a  few  moments  afterwards  we  saw 
them  dashing  up  Main  Street,  in  close  chase  of 
some  half-dozen  Yankees  who  had  been  detached 
from  the  main  body, — all  of  whom,  I  believe,  they 
captured,  wounding  one  pretty  severely.  One 
Yankee  was  killed  near  Thos.  J.  Berry's,  receiving 
a  shot  through  the  head.  Queen  and  the  children 
went  down  to  see  the  body. 

"  The  main  body  of  the  Yankees,  about  sixty  or 
seventy  strong,  went  down  Main  Street  to  the 
depot,  and  came  upon  Colonel  Crichton's  command 
at  the  old  hospital,  wholly  unprepared,  taking  some 
twenty  or  thirty  prisoners,  and  scattering  the  rest, 
who  fled  in  all  directions.  Colonel  Crichton  tried 
very  hard  to  rally  them,  but  without  success.  They 


108  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

(the  Yankees)  were  formed  in  line  of  battle  in  the 
field  beyond  Clark's  shop,  and  remained  there  for 
about  fifteen  or  twenty  minutes,  when  they  marched 
towards  the  old  turnpike,  and  came  into  town 
through  Sandy  Bottom,  and  drew  up  again  oppo 
site  Hugh  Scott's-,  where  they  remained  some  time, 
and  then  recrossed  the  river  without  interruption, 
carrying  with  them  two  cart-loads  of  cloth  which 
they  met  as  they  were  going  towards  the  factory. 
Colonel  Crichton's  pickets  must  have  been  ex 
tremely  negligent  of  their  duty,  or  our  men  would 
not  have  been  so  completely  surprised. 

"  It  seems  to  be  a  pity  that  we  could  not  have 
captured  the  force  that  came  over,  as  they  did  not 
exceed  seventy-five  or  a  hundred,  and  ours  num 
bered  in  all  upwards  of  two  hundred.  Simpson's 
company,  after  capturing  the  Yankees  who  fled 
towards  Falmouth,  retired  down  the  Richmond 
road  across  Hazel  Run,  and  did  not  return  until 
after  the  main  body  of  the  enemy  had  crossed  the 
river  again. 

"  I  understand  that  the  whole  force  that  came 
to  Falmouth  consisted  of  a  detachment  of  the  1st 
Indiana  and  6th  Ohio  Cavalry,  numbering  in  all 
about  two  hundred  men,  under  a  major  of  the  1st 
Indiana.  The  company  that  crossed  the  river  was 
commanded  by  Captain  Dahlgren,  who  is  said  to 
be  on  General  Sigel's  staff.  The  detachment  came 
from  Gaines  Cross  Roads,  and  I  think  was  nothing 


RIDE  INTO  FREDERICKSBURG. 


109 


more  than  a  reconnoitering  party.     They  behaved 
very  well.     Aleck  Green,  whom  they  took  prisoner 
and  discharged,  told  me  that  they  were  the  most 
respectable  set  he  had  seen  of  all  the  Yankees. 
******** 
"  I  think  it  not  unlikely  that  we  shall  have  the 
enemy,  in  greater  or  less  force,  with  us  again. 

"  Yours  truly, 
"(Signed)  J.  M.  HERNDON." 

These  three  papers,  being  penned  without  con 
nection  between  the  writers,  and  from  different 
standpoints,  establish  beyond  question  the  main 
facts  of  this  brilliant  exploit, — the  great  superiority 
of  the  rebel  force,  their  complete  surprise  by  Ulric 
Dahlgren,  and  the  prompt  attack  and  overthrow  of 
the  rebels  in  successive  charges,  driving  them  out 
of  the  town,  so  that  it  was  actually  in  possession 
of  Captain  Dahlgren  until  he  chose  to  leave  it. 

The  testimony  of  the  citizen's  letter  is  quite  as 
conclusive  in  regard  to  these  particulars  as  the 
report  of  Ulric  Dahlgren,  for  he  speaks  chiefly  of 
what  he  saw. 

The  information  in  regard  to  the  numbers  of  the 
rebels  is  clear  enough  as  to  their  superiority,  but 
not  as  to  the  extent  of  that  superiority, — the  Fred- 
ericksburg  letter  estimating  the  force  at  two  hun 
dred,  while  the  lowest  figure  in  any  of  the  reports 
which  reached  Captain  Dahlgren  placed  the  rebel 
10 


HO  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

total  at  not  less  than  two  hundred  and  fifty  men. 
And  as  his  numbers  did  not  exceed  sixty,  each  one 
of  his  men  had  to  contend  with  three  or  four  rebels. 
This  great  odds  had  been  overbalanced  by  the 
rapidity  of  his  movements,  and  by  the  intrepid  and 
instant  use  of  the  advantage  thus  obtained.  He 
hesitated  not  for  a  moment  in  charging  superior 
forces,  and  was  well  and  bravely  sustained  by  the 
little  band  of  troopers  and  its  officers. 

The  rebels  appear  to  have  resisted  with  stub 
bornness,  but  were  so  well  whipped  that  they  fled 
the  town  incontinently,  and  would  not  renew  the 
fight.  The  Fredericksburg  letter  says  that  the  1 5th 
Virginia  did  not  return  until  after  the  departure  of 
their  young  antagonist,  nor  could  all  the  efforts  of 
Colonel  Crichton  rally  the  pth  Virginia.  That  ex 
perience  of  Ulric  Dahlgren  in  a  fair  field  probably 
led  the  men  of  the  same  regiment,  at  a  later  date, 
to  prefer  firing  at  him  from  the  midnight  ambush. 

The  tidings  that  first  reached  Washington  were 
well  calculated  to  excite  solicitude  in  the  family, 
and  some  anxious  hearts  were  for  awhile  kept  in 
painful  suspense  as  to  the  fate  of  the  young  soldier. 
About  four  o'clock  on  Monday  afternoon,  November 
loth,  his  father,  still  detained  at  the  Naval  Ordnance 
Office  by  business,  received  the  following  telegram  : 


RIDE  INTO  FREDERICKSBURG.         m 

"  GAINESVILLE,  November  10,  1862. 
"To  CAPTAIN  JOHN  A.  DAHLGREN: 

"  Captain  Ulric  Dahlgren,  sent  yesterday  to  re- 

connoiter  the  Fredericksburg  and  Acquia  Railroad, 

has  been  captured,  with  forty  men,  in  making  a  dash 

on  Fredericksburg;  the  particulars  not  known  yet. 

"  F.  SIGEL,  Major-General" 

The  effect  of  this  unpleasant  news  was  relieved 
by  another  telegram  late  in  the  evening : 

"  GAINESVILLE,  November  10,  1862. 

"  To  CAPTAIN  JOHN  A.  DAHLGREN,  U.S.N.  :- 

"Allow  me  to  congratulate  you  upon  the  bril 
liant  success  and  gallant  behavior  of  your  son, 
Captain  U.  Dahlgren. 

"F.  SIGEL,  Major- General" 

No  explanation  of  these  conflicting  dispatches 
came  until  next  day,  when  the  following  was  re 
ceived  : 

"  GAINESVILLE,  November  10,  1862. 

"  To  CAPTAIN  JOHN  A.  DAHLGREN  : 

"  Information  has  been  received  that  your  son  is 
not  captured,  but  will  be  here  to-night.  Our  recon- 
noitering  party  made,  under  command  of  your  son, 
a  gallant  charge  into  Fredericksburg,  and  routed 
the  rebels.  Shall  send  you  more  particulars  when 
Captain  Ulric  arrives. 

"  C.  W.  ASMUSSEN, 

"Lieutenant-Colonel,  A.  D.  C" 


112  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

Then  came  his  own  simple  and  brief  greeting : 
"  GAINESVILLE,  November  10,  1862. 

"To  JOHN  A.  DAHLGREN,  Chief  Ordnance  : 

"I  have  just  returned  from  Fredericksburg, — all 
right. 

"  ULRIC  DAHLGREN." 

The  tardy  mail  finally  brought  the  following 
note  from  General  Sigel,  which  fully  explained 
what  had  occurred : 

"  HEADQUARTERS  ELEVENTH  CORPS,  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC, 
GAINESVILLE,  VA.,  November  10,  1862. 

"COMMODORE  J.  A.  DAHLGREN,  Washington,  D.C. : 
"  DEAR  SIR, — It  affords  me  pleasure  to  say  that 
your  son  Ulric  Dahlgren,  on  my  staff,  has  returned 
from  Fredericksburg,  after  executing  one  of  the 
most  brilliant  and  daring  expeditions  since  the 
breaking  out  of  the  war,  the  particulars  of  which 
you  will  learn  from  the  newspapers,  and  from  a 
copy  of  his  report  to  me,  which  I  inclose  to  you. 
His  modesty  is  as  commendable  as  his  skill  and 
bravery.  I  esteem  his  soldierly  and  manly  quali 
ties  very  highly,  and  think  you  have  much  to  be 
gratified  at  in  him. 

"  I  am  very  respectfully, 

"  F.  SIGEL, 
"Major-General,  U.  S.  V." 


RIDE  INTO   FREDERICKSBURG.         113 

Three  years  later,  General  Sigel  writes  thus : 

"This  'raid'  to  Fredericksburg  was,  according  to 
my  opinion,  one  of  the  most  daring  and  most  ef 
fective  of  the  whole  war,  and  clearly  demonstrated 
the  principle  which  I  always  tried  to  impress  on  the 
minds  of  our  cavalry, — that  in  an  attack  the  sword 
is  mightier  than  the  carbine  and  the  pistol.  The 
object  of  this  expedition  was  attained  to  the  letter." 

The  opinion  of  a  gallant  and  experienced  warrior 
like  Sigel,  who  so  well  understood  this  exploit  in 
all  its  bearings,  is  well  worth  having. 

Ulric  Dahlgren  was  no  privileged  witness  of  the 
perils  of  that  day,  but  bore  his  part  in  the  rapid 
succession  of  personal  combats  which  ensued,  with 
all  the  earnestness  of  his  nature,  tokens  of  which 
were  evident  in  the  loss  of  his  cap  and  sword-scab 
bard,  the  straightening  out  of  a  spur,  and  other 
consequences  of  close  and  rough  collision  in  hand- 
to-hand  fight. 

Yet  he  seemed  almost  to  forget  his  own  share  in 
the  fray  when  he  reverted  to  the  occasion,  and  to 
remember  only  the  Spartan  valor  and  unshaken 
constancy  of  the  little  band  that  he  led,  with  Sherra, 
and  Miller,  and  Carr. 

Old  memories  kindled  in  his  eye,  when  he  re 
verted  to  the  fine  temper  exhibited  by  the  men,  on 
hearing  the  order  to  charge  back  through  the  town 
and  regain  the  ford;  they  had  formed  with  the 
precision  of  a  parade,  and  as  the  sabers  rang  out, 
10* 


1 14  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

almost  with  one  sound,  from  the  steel  scabbards, 
every  glittering  blade  went  aloft,  as  if  by  common 
consent,  with  loud  and  joyous  acclaim  from  the 
whole  band,  "so  exultant  were  they." 

This  was  the  inspiration  from  victory,  and  he 
shared  in  it ;  but,  while  yet  all  the  future  lay  be 
fore  him  in  doubt,  and  hung  upon  the  untried 
chances  of  conflict  with  superior  numbers,  the  ad 
mirable  balance  of  his  own  spirit  was  noted  by  some 
lookers-on  whom  he  heeded  not. 

A  lady,  then  residing  in  the  town,  says  that  the 
clattering  hoofs  of  some  cavalry  had  drawn  most 
of  the  people  to  their  windows,  herself  among  them. 
The  new-comers  had  not  the  appearance  of  their 
own  soldiers,  and  yet,  the  easy  pace  at  which  they 
moved,  and  their  very  composed  manner, betokened 
no  hostile  errand.  The  neighbors  looked  on,  much 
puzzled.  At  last,  a  woman  cried  out  to  an  officer 
riding  near  the  advance,  "  Who  are  you  ? — -friends 
or  enemies?"  The  young  leader  smiled  good- 
humoredly,  as  he  replied,  "  You'll  see  presently" — 
which  was  quickly  verified ;  for  soon  the  genuine 
gray-backs  came  in  view,  and  the  fight  began  im 
mediately. 

The  lady  afterwards  learned  that  the  officer  thus 
addressed  was  Ulric  Dahlgren,  just  as  serene  and 
unshaken  as  when  in  sight  of  Richmond,  at  a  later 
day,  he  rode  along  the  lines  of  his  men  under  a 
shower  of  bullets. 


RIDE  INTO  FREDERICKSBURG.         n5 

He  had  now  fairly  won  his  spurs,  and  established 
his  right  to  the  honor  of  the  uniform  which  he  wore. 
Previously,  he  could  hardly  have  been  singled  out 
from  the  throng  of  gallant  young  men  who  pressed 
around  the  banner  of  their  country.  Now,  he  had 
shown  by  the  ride  into  Fredericksburg  his  manner 
of  executing  an  order,  "to  ascertain  the  rebel  force  in 
that  place"  displaying  a  capacity  for  command 
which  belonged  to  riper  years,  and  gave  rich 
promise  to  the  glowing  courage  of  youth.  He 
was  then  but  a  few  months  over  twenty  years  of  age. 

The  exploit  was  duly  chronicled  by  the  public 
press  throughout  the  country,  and  was  also  made 
the  subject  of  a  picture  by  Mr.  Darley,  one  of  the 
most  gifted  artists  in  our  country. 

It  is  a  most  beautiful  and  spirited  delineation  of 
the  event.* 

In  the  course  of  the  inquiry  ordered  by  Congress 
"into  the  facts  relating  to  the  battle  of  Fredericks- 
burg,"  fought  by  General  Burnside,  December  13, 
1862,  about  a  month  after  the  city  was  entered  by 
Captain  Ulric,  the  latter  event  was  mentioned, 
incidentally,  by  two  distinguished  officers  who  ap 
peared  as  evidence. 

General  Hooker  testified,  "  Only  a  few  days  be- 

*  Inscribed  as  the  "  Cavalry  Charge  into  Fredericksburg,  No 
vember  9,  1862."  Published  by  J.  McClure,  772  Broadway,  New 
York. 


Il6  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

fore,  Lieutenant  Dahlgren,  of  the  Cavalry,  with  fifty- 
jive  men,  crossed  the  river  and  took  possession  of  the 
town'' 

General  Meigs,  Quartermaster-General,  testified, 
"  Captain  Dahlgren,  of  General  Sigel's  staff,  had 
made  a  dash  into  Fredericksburg,  a  few  days  before, 
and  had  driven  out  what  little  force  was  there'' 


CHAPTER  VI. 

CAMPAIGN  OF  GENERAL  BURNSIDE,  NOVEMBER  /,  1 862, 
TO  26TH  JANUARY,  1863. 

ON  the  /th  of  November,  late  at  night,  General 
McClellan  received  the  order  to  transfer  to 
General  Burnside  the  command  of  the  army,  then 
massed  about  Warrenton;  several  corps  having 
been  advanced  more  to  the  front,  with  the  ^design 
of  moving  by  way  of  Culpepper. 

On  the  1 5th,  Burnside,  having  decided  to  change 
the  plan  of  operations,  moved  towards  Fredericks- 
burg,  and  on  the  i8th  the  advance,  under  Sumner, 
occupied  Falmouth. 

Sigel's  corps,  being  still  held  as  a  reserve,  re 
mained  near  Fairfax. 

The  whole  movement  of  the  army  was  so  undis 
guised,  and  performed  so  leisurely,  that  the  enemy 
had  full  notice  of  what  was  intended,  and  time  for 
whatever  preparation  they  thought  fit  to  make.  So 
they  were  already  in  force  at  Fredericksburg. 

Washington  was  now  alive  with  the  passage  of 
troops,  moving  hourly  along  its  streets  to  the  front. 

December  had  set  in  with   more  rigor  than  is 


Il8  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

usual  in  this  mild  climate.  On  the  5th,  there  was 
a  fall  of  wet  snow,  which  covered  the  ground  for 
several  inches.  It  was  quite  cold  afterwards,  with 
high  winds;  the  weather  was  freezing  and  wintry. 

Captain  Ulric  occasionally  visits  the  home  he 
loves  so  well,  and  in  its  quiet  finds  a  pleasing  con 
trast  with  the  bustle  of  camp-life. 

The  day  of  battle  is  now  approaching;  our  fine 
army  stretches  in  grand  array  along  the  Rappa- 
hannock,  which  the  general  intends  to  cross,  and 
carry  the  enemy's  position  by  main  force. 

Lee,  apparently,  thinks  it  useless  to  attempt 
holding  the  south  bank  in  order  to  dispute  the 
passage  in  force,  as  our  artillery  commands  it  with 
full  sweep  from  the  heights  on  the  northern  bank ; 
so  he  draws  up  his  army  on  the  high  ground  in  the 
rear  of  Fredericksburg,  and  completes  the  natural 
strength  of  the  position  by  improvised  works.  A 
little  farther  back  is  the  bulk  of  his  force  in  reserve. 
Skirmishers  are  thrown  out  along  the  river-bank, 
so  as  not  to  allow  our  crossing  entirely  at  ease. 

The  air  is  frosty,  and  the  ground  hard,  and  so 
our  numerous  artillery  is  readily  moved  to  the 
various  positions. 

On  the  I  ith  December,  General  Sigel,  who  now 
commands  the  grand  reserve  division  of  the  army, 
moves  from  Fairfax  by  the  river-road  towards 
Dumfries,  having  previously  dispatched  Captain 
Ulric  in  advance  to  General  Burnside  for  further 


CAMPAIGN  OF  GENERAL  BURNSIDE.     119 

instructions.  On  arriving  at  headquarters,  he  be 
holds  with  deep  interest  the  splendid  array  of  our 
army,  and  the  preparation  for  a  mighty  effort.  The 
general  may  not  have  forgotten  the  exploit  of  the 
young  officer,  who  now  rides  up  to  report,  for  it  is 
only  a  month  since  he  rode  into  that  town  opposite, 
with  a  handful  of  cavalry,  and  actually  held  it  for 
several  hours ;  or  perhaps  his  wishes  to  be  present 
at  the  coming  struggle  may  have  found  expression; 
but  certain  it  is  that  the  special  order  No.  349 
placed  him  temporarily  on  the  staff  of  the  com 
manding  general,  and  thus  enabled  him  to  partici 
pate  in  the  battle. 

Before  dawn  the  engineers  are  at  work  to  bridge 
the  river  at  three  points.  There  is  no  difficulty 
with  the  left  or  center,  but  the  right  bridge  is  to  be 
placed  opposite  the  city,  and  has  only  been  run 
two-thirds  of  the  distance  across  the  river,  when 
the  fire  of  the  riflemen,  concealed  in  the  buildings 
and  other  cover,  becomes  so  deadly  that  the  en 
gineers  can  work  no  longer.  The  cannon  now 
pour  in  their  volleys  in  rapid  succession,  but  fail  to 
dislodge  the  hidden  enemy, — and  the  day  is  waning 
rapidly,  when  some  regiments*  are  selected  to  cross 
and  drive  away  these  sharpshooters.  Quick  as 
thought  they  enter  the  pontoon-boats  and  row 
across.  Among  them  is  Captain  Ulric.  The  land- 

*  7th  Michigan,  I9th  and  2Oth  Massachusetts. 


120  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

ing  is  effected;  sharp  firing  is  maintained;  the 
enemy  resists  stiffly;  some  of  our  men  fall,  among 
them  the  Rev.  Chaplain  Fuller,  close  to  Captain 
Dahlgren.  Our  men  pause  not,  but  sweep  on,  and 
in  brief  space  are  masters  of  the  ground ;  then  the 
bridge  is  quickly  completed. 

The  next  day  our  forces  were  leisurely  marched 
over,  and  occupied  the  city  and  the  level  ground 
that  stretches  below  it.  Upon  the  wooded  ridge  that 
overlooks  this  plain  are  posted,  silent  and  unseen, 
the  legions  of  rebeldom,  well  assured  of  victory 
in  their  impregnable  position,  and  almost  doubtful 
whether  we  will  venture  to  attack. 

On  the  other  hand,  Halleck,  sitting  quietly  in 
the  office  at  Washington,  thinks  the  rebels  will  not 
fight,  while  Burnside,  looking  on,  knows  that  they 
will. 

And  so  on  Saturday,  the  1 3th  of  December,  as 
fine  an  army,  and  as  well  led  as  men  ever  were, 
fearlessly  marched  up  to  the  enemy's  intrench- 
ments.  Forth  came  the  fatal  volleys,  strewing  the 
hillsides  with  our  dead.  The  ranks  are  reformed 
again  and  again,  but  without  hope,  for  they  wilt 
away  before  those  consuming  sheets  of  flame,  from 
unseen  hands,  as  chaff  in  a  fiery  furnace. 

Night  closes  upon  the  conflict, — the  rebels  do 
not  dare  to  come  from  their  covert  and  face  those 
men,  wearied  and  decimated  though  they  are. 

As  the  day  wore  on,  and  the  unwelcome  result 


CAMPAIGN  OF  GENERAL  BURNS  IDE.     121 

was  becoming  apparent,  the  general  had  deemed  it 
advisable  to  have  his  reserve  well  in  hand  to  meet 
any  unforeseen  contingency;  and  who  more  fit  or 
willing  to  convey  the  orders  to  General  Sigel  than 
his  own  aide  whom  he  had  sent  for  instructions  ? 
The  wish  is  hardly  intimated  when  Captain  Ulric 
announces  himself  as  ready.  A  few  minutes  suffice 
for  preparation.  The  way  lies  through  an  un 
friendly  country,  and  it  is  most  important  that  the 
order  shall  not  fail  to  reach.  So  he  exchanges  his 
uniform  as  an  officer  for  the  less  noticeable  garb  of 
a  private  soldier,  replaces  the  wearied  horse  that 
has  borne  him  all  day  through  the  battle,  and  with 
a  single  orderly  turns  rein  northward  at  full  speed. 
It  is  j  ust  four  o'clock,  and  by  six  he  delivers  the  order 
to  General  Sigel,  who  had  reached  Dumfries.  The 
distance  thus  traveled  is  said  to  be  twenty  miles  by 
the  road  taken,  the  time,  two  hours, — a  task  of  no 
small  endurance,  even  if  he  had  not  been  previously 
in  the  saddle  or  afoot  from  early  light. 

The  general  had  been  wondering  what  had  be 
come  of  his  aide,  and  was  looking  for  him  in  another 
direction ;  but  he  was  here  at  last.  There  was,  of 
course,  much  to  tell,  so,  with  a  hasty  morsel  of 
food  and  an  hour's  sleep,  the  indefatigable  young 
soldier  was  again  mounted,  and  on  the  way  back. 
The  night  was  too  dark  for  rapid  riding,  nor  was 
there  the  same  reason  for  extreme  haste,  and  it  was 
five  o'clock  the  next  morning  when  Captain  Ulric 

ii 


122  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

announced,  at  headquarters,  that  his  mission  had 
been  accomplished. 

And  now  weary  nature  would  no  more.  Twenty 
hours  in  the  saddle,  with  little  food  and  less  sleep," 
had  entirely  exhausted  the  hardy  rider.  His  eyes 
were  almost  closed  as  he  alighted  from  his  horse. 
Acceptably  for  him,  the  whole  of  the  day  following, 
the  battle  was  intermitted.  It  was  a  Sabbath  for 
both  armies.  So  his  wearied  frame  had  an  oppor 
tunity  for  undisturbed  repose. 

On  Monday,  as  soon  as  darkness  obscured  our 
motions,  the  river  was  recrossed,  and  by  dawn  of 
the  next  day  the  army  was  in  place  on  the  north 
side  of  the  river,  except  the  many  thousands  who 
were  never  to  fight  again. 

It  was  while  our  troops  were  in  Fredericksburg 
that  the  letter  of  Mr.  Herndon,  already  quoted 
from,  was  found. 

'  On  the  I Qth  of  December,  Captain  Ulric  came  to 
Washington  with  General  Sigel,  both  having  been 
summoned  as  witnesses  in  the  case  of  General 
McDowell,  who  had  asked  for  a  Court  of  Inquiry. 
This  detained  the  wanderer  for  some  ten  days,  and 
allowed  him  the  pleasure  of  "  a  merry  Christmas 
and  a  happy  New  Year"  at  the  home  where  he  had 
spent  so  many  in  former  days,  but  where  he  was 
never  to  spend  another.  How  little  was  that 
dreamed  of  in  those  joyous  hours  ! 

Burnside,  not  willing  to  relinquish  the  hope  of 


CAMPAIGN  OF  GENERAL  BURNSIDE. 


123 


retrieving  his  fortune,  was  preparing  another  move, 
and  had  actually  commenced,  when  the  continuance 
of  wretched  weather  interrupted  his  plans,  and 
arrested  operations  for  the  winter. 

Whereupon  the  general  asked  to  be  relieved 
from  the  command  of  the  army,  and  was  succeeded 
by  Hooker,  about  the  26th  of  January,  1863. 


CHAPTER    VII. 

CAMPAIGN  OF  GENERAL  HOOKER,  DECEMBER  13  TO 
JUNE  28,  I  863,  INCLUDING  THE  BATTLE  OF  CHANCEL- 
LORSVILLE  AND  THE  COMBAT  AT  BEVERLY  FORD. 

T3URNSIDE  had  hurled  his  living  masses 
-D  against  the  intrenched  rebels,  and  had  been 
repulsed  with  terrible  loss.  Many  were  killed  out 
right,  some  were  left,  wounded  and  prisoners,  at  the 
mercy  of  a  vindictive  enemy,  although  the  greater 
number  were  happily  removed  by  friendly  hands. 
In  mere  numbers,  our  army  had  been  lessened  by 
twelve  thousand  men, — a  small  army  of  itself. 

Another  effort  was  in  embryo,  but  the  winter- 
storms  came  in  their  might,  and  the  general's 
wishes  to  be  relieved  from  the  command  of  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac  were  gratified. 

As  it  was,  no  battle  was  again  fought  by  this 
army,  after  that  of  Fredericksburg,  until  the  winter 
and  nearly  the  entire  spring  had  passed  away. 

What  was  left  of  December  was  expended  in  that 
most  unprofitable,  but  with  us  too  common,  occur 
rence  of  military  life, — a  Court  of  Inquiry.  It  had 
been  sought  by  General  McDowell,  in  regard  to 
(124) 


CAMPAIGN  OF  GENERAL  HOOKER.     12$ 

his  share  of  the  last  summer  campaign ;  and  as 
General  Sigel's  corps  had  been  closely  associated 
with  that  of  McDowell,  he  was  to  be  a  prominent 
witness.  His  staff,  and  among  them  Captain  Ulric, 
were  to  testify,  and  this  duty  detained  him  in  Wash 
ington  from  the  iQth  to  the  3ist  December. 

In  this  way  the  young  soldier  was  allowed  the 
privilege  of  a  Christmas  and  a  New  Year's  day  at 
home.  Many  had  been  spent  there  happily  in 
younger  days,  but  where  were  the  warm  hearts  and 
smiling  faces  of  some  that  had  then  greeted  him 
and  lent  their  kind  influences  to  the  hour?  What 
a  fragment  of  a  once  happy  family  !  Little  did  the 
brave  fellow  think  that  he  too  should  never  pass 
another  Christmas  in  that  once  joyous  home. 

General  Hooker  took  command  of  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac  on  the  26th  January,  1863.  His  first 
task  was  to  restore  confidence  and  raise  the  hopes 
of  his  men,  which  care  and  attention  and  good 
order  performed  in  due  season. 

Meanwhile,  the  diminished  numbers  of  Sigel's 
corps  required  but  slight  service  from  his  staff,  so 
Ulric  employed  his  leisure  on  some  device  in  ord 
nance  which  should  meet  certain  unsupplied  neces 
sities  of  cavalry,  his  previous  opportunities  about 
the  ordnance  department  of  his  father  having  well 
trained  him  in  such  matters. 

Whenever  he  happened  to  be  in  Washington,  his 
evenings  were  generally  spent  at  home.  Once 
n* 


126  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

only  did  he  allow  himself  to  participate  in  any  gay 
assemblage,  and  then  simply  as  a  mark  of  respect 
for  the  request  of  a  lady,  whose  exalted  worth 
and  refined  taste  had  rendered  her  friendship, 
during  a  long  period  of  time,  much  prized  by  his 
parents. 

Few  would  have  observed  the  rather  diffident 
and  very  young  man  (for  he  had  not  yet  attained 
his  majority),  who,  in  the  customary  suit  of  black, 
was  quietly  but  pleasantly  looking  upon  that  bril 
liant  scene,  and  standing  aside  among  the  throng 
of  spectators.  Fastidiously  averse  to  becoming  the 
object  of  even  passing  remark,  he  had  abstained 
on  this  occasion  from  the  justifiable  display  of  a 
uniform  which  might  attract  notice,  and  yet  one 
which  he  had  so  often  worn  with  honor  on  the 
battle-field. 

Presently  he  is  once  more  at  the  camp;  and 
writes  from  Stafford  Court  House  (February  20), 
mentioning  incidentally  that  he  has  seen  General 
Hooker.  His  letter  also  inquires  after  the  progress 
that  has  been  made  with  his  new  cavalry  piece,  and 
hopes  it  may  reach  him  in  season.  He  is  much 
pleased,  too,  at  having  observed  that  his  brother, 
who  is  serving  in  the  Western  waters,  has  been 
handsomely  spoken  of  by  Admiral  Porter. 

General  Sigel  being  about  to  retire  from  his 
command,  which  he  has  filled  with  so  much  honor, 
Captain  Ulric  is  transferred  by  General  Hooker  to 


CAMPAIGN  OF  GENERAL   HOOKER.     127 

his  own  staff,  and  on  the  2ist  March  writes  that  he 
has  reported  accordingly. 

General  Hooker,  as  already  stated,  assumed 
command  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  on  the  26th 
January.  The  troops  had  been  unavoidably  much 
dispirited  by  defeat  and  by  heavy  losses,  aggra 
vated  by  the  inclemency  of  winter-weather,  and 
by  the  discomforts  that  arose  from  the  defective 
communications,  so  difficult  to  remedy  at  that 
season.  These  evils  were  to  be  cured,  and  dis 
cipline  restored,  before  the  army  could  be  put  in 
motion. 

Ulric  Dahlgren  reported  about  the  2 1st  March, 
and  his  active  nature  was  soon  engrossed  with  the 
labor  that  fell  to  his  share.  His  genial  and  manly 
qualities  were  appreciated  by  his  new  comrades, 
and  he  found  himself  on  the  most  friendly  terms 
with  the  whole  staff. 

By  the  middle  of  April,  the  general  had  brought 
his  army  of  one  hundred  thousand  men  into  good 
working  order ;  and  the  approach  of  active  opera 
tions  began  to  be  signified  by  incidents  in  the  daily 
business. 

On  the  1 3th  April,  a  strong  force  was  sent  to 
hold  Kelley's  and  other  fords,  preparatory  to  a 
general  move, — the  object  of  which  was  to  pass 
the  cavalry  around  so  as  to  intercept  the  rebel 
communications  with  Richmond,  while  the  infantry 


128  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

would  cross  below  Fredericksburg  and  attack  Lee. 
But  shortly  after  the  cavalry  started,  a  heavy  rain 
storm  set  in,  which  rendered  the  river  impassable, 
and  further  operations  were  necessarily  suspended 
for  awhile. 

Ulric's  memoranda,  about  this  time,  run  thus 
(at  headquarters  near  Falmouth): 

" Friday,  April  10,  1863. — The  President  and  lady 
returned  to  Washington,  having  reviewed  the  whole 
army  by  corps,  all  of  which  were  in  excellent  con 
dition. 

"Sunday,  April  12. — Stoneman's  cavalry  corps 
ordered  to  prepare  for  a  move,  and  a  brigade  of 
infantry  from  the  Eleventh  Corps,  towards  Kelley's 
Ford.  Rained  slightly  about  evening. 

"Monday,  April  13. —  Cavalry  corps  moved- 
weather  cooler. 

"  Tuesday,  April  14. — Army  provided  with  eight 
days'  rations,  and  ready  to  move. 

"  Wednesday,  April  15. — Raining  hard.  Orderly 
arrived  at  noon,  and  reported  Stoneman  at  Rappa- 
hannock  Station.  River  rising  several  feet. 

"Friday,  April  17. — Made  balloon  ascension, — 
think  it  does  not  assist  us  much  as  used  at  present, 
being  too  far  off,  and  does  not  extend  the  view 
much. 

"  Saturday,  April  1 8.—  .  .  .  Eleventh  Corps' 
pontoon  arrived. 

"  Sunday,  April  19. — Stoneman  at  Bealton.    Cav- 


CAMPAIGN  OF  GENERAL  HOOKER.     129 

airy  from  Rappahannock  Station  to  White  Sulphur 
Springs;  river  too  high  to  cross;  the  enemy  had 
artillery  on  opposite  bank.  Provisions  sent  Stone- 
man.  General  Hooker  met  the  President  at  Acquia 
Creek.  Raining.  My  mare  came  down.  Indica 
tions  of  our  crossing  below.  Large  fire  in  the 
rebel  camp.  Reynolds's  corps  moved  from  Belle- 
Plain.  .  .  .  It  is  said  that  Stoneman  got  some 
men  over,  and,  finding  the  rain  was  coming  down, 
came  back 

"  Wednesday,  April  22. — Clear  and  pleasant.  .  .  . 
Several  major-generals  at  headquarters.  A  move 
expected  to-morrow. 

"  Thursday,  April  23. — Raining  hard, — slackened 
off  towards  night.  .  .  .  Two  regiments  crossed 
this  morning  in  pontoon-boats  at  Port  Royal,  re 
mained  there  five  hours,  when  the  rebels  appeared 
in  force.  A  small  fort  was  entered  half  a  mile 
back  of  the  town,  but  there  was  nothing  in  it. 
******** 

"Saturday,  April  2 5 . — Windy, — no  rain.  Several 
corps  commanders  were  with  General  Hooker  to 
day.  Eight  hundred  men  repairing  roads  near 
Hartwood. 

"  Simday,  April  26. — Clear  and  beautiful.  Rode 
down  the  river-bank, — -signs  of  a  move  among  the 
enemy.  Eleventh  and  Twelfth  Corps  ordered  to 
move  to-morrow  morning. 

"Monday,  April  27. — Clear  and  warm.     Secretary 


130  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

Seward  reviewed  Third  Corps.  Aides  ordered  to 
be  ready  to  move  in  the  morning  at  nine  o'clock. 
The  Second,  Fifth,  Eleventh,  and  Twelfth  Corps 
moved  to-day." 

It  will  be  seen  from  these  memoranda,  that  while 
events  were  proceeding  to  another  act  in  the  drama, 
the  young  soldier  was  not  idle.  These  and  his 
letters  show  him  sometimes  traversing  the  country, 
carefully  observing  all  that  might  by  any  possibility 
concern  the  headquarters.  On  more  than  one 
occasion  he  ascended  in  the  balloon,  but  seemed 
disappointed  in  not  finding  verified  the  expectations 
the  uninitiated  attach  to  this  seemingly  complete 
survey  of  the  scene  below;  for  the  view  was  too 
distant  to  be  distinct,  and  very  little  experience 
served  to  make  manifest  that  no  important  assist 
ance  was  to  be  derived  from  the  use  of  such  means, 
— a  conclusion  entertained,  no  doubt,  by  experts, 
which  explains  the  limited  use  of  the  balloon  for 
military  purposes. 

Some  discontent,  about  this  time,  became  appar 
ent  in  a  few  regiments,  owing  to  the  construction 
given  to  the  terms  regulating  the  expiration  of  their 
service;  but  this  was  arranged  without  serious 
difficulty. 

As  the  season  advanced,  and  the  roads  became 
firm,  General  Hooker  determined  to  strike  more 
decisively  at  the  enemy.  His  plan  was  to  cross 


CAMPAIGN  OF  GENERAL  HOOKER.     131 

above  Fredericksburg  by  an  upper  ford,  march 
down,  and  flank  and  rout  Lee,  hoping  also  to  inter 
cept  his  retreat.  Simultaneously  with  this  move 
on  the  right,  Fredericksburg  was  to  be  menaced  by 
our  left. 

The  move  began  on  the  27th  April.  The  gen 
eral  himself  went  to  Morrisville,  on  the  28th,  to 
superintend  the  passage  of  the  Rappahannock  by 
three  corps, — the  Fifth,  Eleventh,  and  Twelfth, — 
which  was  effected  on  the  night  of  the  28th,  and 
early  on  the  29th.  Moving  down,  the  Rapidan 
was  crossed  at  Ely's  Ford  on  the  29th,  and  on  the 
3Oth  our  line  of  battle  was  established  near  Chan- 
cellorsville,  within  eleven  miles  of  the  main  body 
of  the  enemy. 

On  the  29th,  the  left,  composed  of  three  corps, 
First,  Third,  and  Sixth,  were  to  go  over  the  river 
at  Franklin's  Crossing,  which  was  executed  with 
precision  and  dispatch.  On  the  3Oth,  the  Third 
Corps  joined  the  force  at  Chancellorsville.  De 
serters  now  reported  troops  coming  from  Rich 
mond. 

During  these  movements,  Ulric  Dahlgren  was 
actively  employed,  as  usual, — at  one  time  commu 
nicating  some  order  to  a  division,  in  one  instance 
having  to  swim  a  river  to  do  so;  or  accompanying 
a  chief  of  staff  in  another  direction;  or  near  the 
general  himself,  conveying  to  him  the  report  of  a 
distant  proceeding;  but  always  a  keen  and  zealous 


132  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

observer  of  passing  events.     The  brief  memoranda 
which  he  made  at  this  time  run  as  follows  : 

"  Tuesday,  April  28. — Raining.  General  Hooker 
started  up  the  river.  .  .  .  First,  Third,  and  Sixth 
Corps  moved  to  Franklin's  Crossing,  ready  to  go 
over  at  midnight,  and  be  ready  in  line  of  battle  at 
three  o'clock  A.M. 

"  Wednesday,  April  29. —  .  .  .  The  bridges 
were  not  over  until  ten  o'clock,  and  the  lower 
bridge  at  noon.  Newton's  division  crossed  in  boats. 
Wadsworth's  brigade  was  roughly  handled  below, 
— the  enemy  were  surprised,  and  caught  in  their 
rifle-pits  on  the  bank.  General  Hooker  returned 
at  noon.  First  and  Second  Corps  over,  Third  Corps 
supporting  on  this  side. 

******** 

"  Thursday,  April  30. — Raining  in  the  morning. 
Twelfth  Corps  over  Germania  Ford.  The  rebels 
were  completely  surprised.  Fifth,  Eleventh,  and 
Twelfth  Corps  at  Chancellorsville  by  noon.  Went 
to  Chancellorsville  and  returned  at  night.  Met 
General  Hooker  and  made  report.  Second  Corps 
crossing  at  United  States  Ford  in  the  evening, — 
Third  Corps  at  Hammett's  house.  Deserters  re 
ported  troops  coming  up  from  Richmond  and 
towards  Chancellorsville.  To-day  I  swam  the 
river  and  communicated  with  General  Meade. 
General  Couch  then  at  United  States  Ford, — War 
ren  working  on  the  bridges." 


CAMPAIGN  OF  GENERAL  HOOKER.     133 

BATTLE  OF  CHANCELLORSVILLE. 

On  the  1st  May  (Friday)  our  columns  (Fifth, 
Eleventh,  and  Twelfth  Corps)  were  moved  out  on 
the  plank  road  and  the  river  road,  and  were  on  the 
point  of  coming  into  contact  with  the  enemy,  but, 
finding  no  ground  suitable  for  the  development  of 
the  force,  were  drawn  back  into  position,  where  an 
attempt  was  made  on  the  Second  and  Twelfth  Corps, 
which  was  easily  repulsed. 

Next  day  (2d  May)  the  First  Corps  was  ordered 
from  the  left  to  Chancellorsville.  It  is  said  that 
mysterious  sounds  had  been  heard  in  the  dense 
forest  during  the  night,  on  our  extreme  right,  by 
the  Eleventh  Corps.  In  fact,  a  heavy  column  of 
the  enemy,  twenty-five  thousand  strong,  had  been 
moved  with  celerity  and  massed  on  our  right,  a 
movement  unperceived  until  almost  executed. 

General  Hooker  himself  had  observed  some 
evidences  of  this  in  the  morning.  Captain  Dahl- 
gren  had  also  ridden  in  that  direction,  and  perceived 
that  the  enemy  were  passing :  he  could  even  hear 
orders  given  among  them.  General  Sickles  orderd 
a  battery  to  open,  which  was  done  with  good  effect 
seemingly.  He  then  received  permission  to  push 
forward  a  division,  and  felt  the  rear  of  the  rebel 
column  severely,  taking  many  prisoners,  from 
whom  he  ascertained  that  this  was  Jackson's  corps. 
Sickles  was  proceeding  to  enforce  his  attack  seri- 

12 


134 


ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 


ously,  when  his  progress  was  arrested  by  other 
tidings  :  the  catastrophe  was  in  fact  at  hand. 

The  day  was  far  advanced,  when  a  rattling  mus 
ketry-fire  announced  the  rebel  attack.  In  an  in 
stant  their  heavy  masses  broke  in  on  the  Eleventh 
Corps  and  swept  it  from  the  ground.  Captain 
Ulric  had  ridden  to  the  front  in  observation,  and 
quickly  found  himself  among  the  discomfited  Elev 
enth,  hard  pressed  flank  and  rear  by  overwhelming 
numbers  of  rebels.  He  spurred  quickly  to  report  to 
the  general.  Sickles  was  resisting  gallantly.  Gen 
eral  Pleasonton,  by  a  skillful  use  of  some  guns,  was 
giving  valuable  aid.  Berry  was  ordered  up  with  the 
veteran  Second,  and  nobly  was  that  order  obeyed. 
Our  lines  were  drawn  in  finally,  and  the  efforts  of 
the  enemy  against  them  were  repulsed  with  great 
loss, — among  the  fatally  wounded  was  their  gen 
eral,  Stonewall  Jackson. 

There  was  no  rest  the  next  day,  though  it  was 
the  Sabbath.  Long  before  daylight,  Hooker  had 
reformed  his  position;  and  none  too  soon,  for  it 
was  scarcely  light  when  the  attack  was  fiercely  re 
newed.  Again  it  came  right  on  the  noble  Third, 
near  the  Fairview  House.  The  conflict  was  fierce 
and  sanguinary.  The  gallant  Berry  fell ;  and  even 
the  impetuous  Sickles  was  obliged  to  give  ground, 
but  very  gradually,  and  only  to  a  firmer  support; 
for  a  little  farther  towards  Chancellorsville  our 
men  stood  firm,  their  lines  drawn  in  compactly. 


CAMPAIGN  OF  GENERAL  HOOKER.     135 

It  was   nearly  noon  when  the  assailants  drew  off 
and  the  battle  ceased. 

Almost  at  the  critical  instant  General  Hooker  had 
been  knocked  down  and  stunned  by  the  explosion 
of  a  howitzer  shell,  but  rallied  in  time  to  attend  to  the 
dispositions  which  were  demanded  by  the  occasion. 

In  the  afternoon  the  rebel  leader  renewed  the 
assault,  but  was  obliged  to  draw  off  with  loss. 
Meanwhile,  General  Sedgwick  had  carried  the 
heights  of  Fredericksburg,  and  it  was  hoped  that 
he  might  be  advancing  towards  the  main  army, 
which  he  did  in  fact,  but  could  not  get  farther  than 
some  three  miles.  Captain  Ulric  rode  in  that  direc 
tion  about  dark. 

Next  day,  nothing  was  done  by  the  main  army 
except  to  send  a  reconnoissance,  in  the  evening, 
towards  Chancellorsville  ;  but  the  enemy  were  there 
in  force,  seemingly  indisposed  to  advance  ;  they 
were  too  busy  endeavoring  to  dislodge  Sedgwick 
from  position,  which  attempt  was  so  far  successful 
as  to  compel  him  to  recross  the  river  on  the  5th. 

On  Tuesday,  the  corps  commanders  were  at  head 
quarters  in  consultation,  and  it  was  decided  to  re- 
cross  the  river,  as  it  was  rising,  under  the  influence 
of  the  rain  which  had  set  in. 

So,  in  the  course  of  the  night,  this  measure  began, 
and  next  morning,  by  nine  o'clock,  all  the  men 
were  over,  unmolested,  save  by  the  rain,  which  was 
now  coming  down  heavily. 


1 36  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

The  following  night  brought  repose  to  men  and 
officers  alike,  and  perhaps  no  one  in  that  great  host 
needed  it  more  than  Ulric  Dahlgren,  when  he  laid 
him  down  to  rest  on  the  floor  of  the  telegraph 
office. 

His  own  impressions  of  events  will  be  best  under 
stood  from  the  brief  and  hasty  memoranda  which 
the  occasion  allowed  him  to  make. 

"Friday,  May  I,  1863. — Light  rain  in  the  morn 
ing;  afterwards  clear  and  warm.  The  Second,  Fifth, 
Eleventh,  and  Twelfth  Corps  at  Chancellorsville  by 
noon;  firing  towards  Fredericksburg,  12.50;  enemy 
reported  falling  back  a  mile.  Deserters  report  that 
Pickett  was  expected  at  Rapidan  Station.  Sykes 
heavily  engaged  ;  drove  the  enemy  and  then  fell 
back.  Meade  on  river  road.  Slocum  returned, 
about  three  o'clock,  to  Chancellorsville ;  enemy 
followed  and  drove  in  the  pickets  within  half  a  mile 
of  Chancellorsville,  and  made  a  heavy  attack  be 
tween  turnpike  and  plank  roads.  Considerable 
excitement  and  confusion  in  getting  our  troops  to 
position,  but  we  repulsed  the  enemy  late  in  the 
evening.  They  attacked  our  line  at  every  point  in 
succession,  beginning  on  our  right,  but  found  us  too 
strong  everywhere.  The  intention  was  to  shorten 
our  line  during  the  night,  with  our  flanks  on  the 

river The  Eleventh  and  Twelfth  Corps 

were  moved  on  the  plank  road,  ordered  as  far  as 


CAMPAIGN  OF  GENERAL  HOOKER. 


137 


the  Tabernacle  Church;  Fifth  Corps  on  river  road, 
and  Couch's  Second  Corps  supporting  Fifth  and 
Sykes  ;  Third  Corps  in  reserve  at  Chancellorsville. 
I  was  sent  to  Meade,  and  found  him  where  the  road- 
forks  approach  the  river,  and  told  him  that  Couch 
would  support  him  ;  he  said  he  had  plenty  of  men 
there,  and  that  Couch  had  better  support  Sykes. 
Soon  after,  all  were  ordered  back  to 
Chancellorsville The  enemy  imme 
diately  followed  us,  and  I  so  reported  to  General 
Hooker.  .  .  .  Warren  insisted  that  they  would 
attack  us ;  and  he  was  right ;  they  soon  drove  us  into 
our  works,  and  threatened  to  whip  us  ;  everything 
was  in  confusion.  .  .  .  When  this  was  all  over, 
we  thought  that  it  would  result  in  our  success  next 
day.  The  general  was  brave  and  determined.  .  .  . 
"Saturday,  May  2. — Clear  and  warm.  Five  A.M., 
column  of  enemy  attempted  to  move  up  the  plank 
road ;  eight  A.M.,  artillery  fight  from  Chancellors 
ville,  with  a  battle  on  turnpike  towards  Fredericks- 
burg.  A  rebel  limber  blew  up,  and  they  left,  after 
an  hour's  fight.  The  whole  rebel  force  but  one 
division  (in  Fredericksburg)  said  to  be  here.  It 
was  reported  several  times  during  the  day  that  the 
enemy  were  moving  to  our  right.  I  went  down 
the  turnpike  and  watched  their  movements ;  saw 
that  they  were  passing  us,  and  could  hear  their 

orders.     The  artillery  opened  on  them 

General    Berry  having    made    the    same    report, 

12* 


138  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

Sickles  was  ordered  to  move  out  to  the  front  and 
cut  their  column.  Pleasonton  was  sent  out  on  the 
right.  In  the  mean  time  a  sharp  fight  was  going  on 
at  the  plank  road,  by  Slocum,  who  had  pushed 
forward,  ....  when  I  reported  the  affair  to 

the  general The  enemy  did  not  seem 

disposed  to  push  us  here.  In  a  few  moments 
Sickles  became  engaged,  and  was  doing  admirably, 
— had  cut  their  column,  taken  seven  hundred  pris 
oners  and  many  colors,  and  would  have  hurt  them 
more,  which  I  had  just  reported  to  the  general, 
— when  there  arose  tremendous  firing  on  our  right. 
I  went  there,  and  found  the  Eleventh  Corps  running 
and  the  enemy  pressing  them  on  the  flank  and  rear, 
which  I  reported  to  General  Hooker,  and  Berry 
was  ordered  to  the  right  to  check  them,  which  he 
did  handsomely.  In  the  mean  time  the  enemy 
were  nearly  up  with  us,  near  the  Fairview  House, 
and  Sickles  cut  off:  after  night,  he  cut  his  way  out 
and  joined  us.  General  Reynolds  came  up  about 

nine  P.M 

"Sunday,  May  3- — Clear  and  warm.  Six  A.M., 
fight  began  on  left  of  plank  road,  and  near  Fair- 
view  House;  General  Berry  killed.  Third  Corps 
fought  finely.  .  .  .  The  enemy  attacked  us 
fiercely  here ;  their  artillery  not  used  as  much  as 
ours ;  whenever  they  took  position,  our  artillery 
would  drive  them  off,  blowing  up  several  caissons. 
.  .  .  .  Ammunition  giving  out,  and  great  call 


CAMPAIGN  OF  GENERAL  HOOKER.     139 

for  it.  After  a  severe  fight  near  Fairview  House, 
we  dropped  back  half  a  mile  to  Chancellorsville 
House,  and  this  no  longer  tenable,  being  a  mere 
point,  on  both  sides  of  which  were  the  enemy.  It 
was  abandoned,  but  not  until  we  had  planned  an 
attack  from  it  with  the  bayonet  by  Sickles,  which 
was  given  up,  and  then  our  lines  shortened.  Gen 
eral  Hooker  was  knocked  over  at  the  Chancellors 
ville  House,  and  seemed  somewhat  hurt,  upon 
which  Couch  assumed  command.  .  .  .  The 
enemy  now  shelled  our  new  headquarters,  and  we 
fell  back  a  little.  Soon  after  we  left  Chancellors 
ville  House  the  fighting  ceased  for  awhile  (this  was 
about  noon).  The  enemy  made  vigorous  attacks 
at  several  points.  General  Sedgwick  expected  upon 
the  river  road.  Towards  evening  the  enemy  moved 
up  towards  Banks'  Ford.  Howard  continued 
on  the  lookout.  A  reconnoitering  party  on  the 
left  soon  returned ;  skirmishing  around  the  line. 
Sedgwick  took  the  heights  of  Fredericksburg,  and 
advanced  three  and  a  half  miles  up  the  road  ;  heavy 
firing  heard  before  dark  ;  rode  to  the  left  and  to  the 
telegraphic  station. 

"Monday,  May  4. — Clear  and  pleasant.  .  .  . 
General  Whipple  shot  by  sharpshooters  while  riding 
along  the  front.  Firing  at  noon  up  the  river,  sup 
posed  to  be  cavalry  on  our  rear  bridges.  ..  . 
About  five  or  six  P.M.,  Griffin  made  a  reconnois- 
sance  to  feel  the  enemy  near  our  center  and  the 


140  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

Chancellorsville  House,  but  was  soon  forced  back. 
Heavy  firing  in  the  direction  of  Sedgwick,  which 
ceased  at  dark,  but  recommenced  with  great 
fury. 

"  Tuesday,  May  5. — Clear  in  the  morning.  Re 
ported  that  Sedgwick  had  recrossed  during  the 
night.  Warren  working  on  second  line  of  defense, 
which  was  given  up  afterwards,  as  being  too  much 
to  finish  in  time.  Enemy  moving  towards  Freder- 
icksburg.  .  .  .  The  corps  commanders  met. 
.  .  .  .  I  went  after  General  Warren  and  brought 
him  up.  .  .  .  Began  to  rain  ;  ceased  about  five 
P.M.,  and  commenced  again  in  the  evening;  rained 
very  hard. 

"  Wednesday,  May  6. — Raining.  Army  crossed 
during  the  night.  Eleventh  Corps  crossing  at  six 
A.M.;  not  all  over  till  nine  o'clock.  Nothing  in 
sight ;  singular  that  the  enemy  did  not  follow  us. 
A  battery  began  to  shell  us  from  down  the  river, 
but  was  driven  off  The  general  slept  in  a  house 

near  United  States  Ford,  over  the  river 

The  river  rose  very  rapidly.  Slept  in  telegraph 
office." 

And  thus  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville  ended  in 
our  withdrawal  and  return  to  the  previous  position. 
The  loss  was  heavy,  but  probably  no  greater  than 
that  of  the  rebels.  The  operation  was  skillfully 
planned,  and  admirably  executed  in  attaining  the 


CAMPAIGN  OF  GENERAL  HOOKER.     141 

desired  position.  It  deserved  success;  and  if  this 
went  no  further  than  it  did,  the  causes  are  to  be 
found  in  those  accidents  constantly  occurring  in  war, 
which  can  neither  be  foreseen  nor  provided  against, 
— as  on  this  occasion,  in  the  personal  injury  sus 
tained  by  the  general  at  a  critical  moment. 

Amid  this  mighty  host  that  stood  up  to  do 
battle  for  the  Union,  it  would  be  impossible  that  a 
youth  just  entering  upon  manhood  could  have  con 
spicuous  place.  The  duties  that  belonged  to  him 
would  necessarily  be  humble  in  this  great  shock  of 
arms,  where  distinguished  commanders  and  veteran 
troops  faced  every  peril  and  strained  every  nerve 
to  grasp  victory,  and  where  an  army  of  dead  and 
wounded  attested  how  earnestly  the  good  fight 
had  been  fought.  Still,  it  is  something  to  say, 
that  Ulric  Dahlgren  offered  his  mite  with  that 
earnest  devotion  and  disregard  of  danger  which 
always  marked  his  action.  Vigilant,  brave,  never 
tiring,  his  memoranda  made  on  the  spot,  and 
letters  written  soon  after,  will  show  how  accu 
rately  he  noted  what  he  saw,  and  how  truly  he 
judged  of  things  seen  and  unseen;  for  when  com 
pared  with  what  has  been  disclosed  by  the  subse 
quent  testimony  of  the  actors,  no  material  error  wrill 
be  found  in  them.  He  seems  to  have  kept  himself 
constantly  near  to  the  scenes  of  the  great  events 
of  the  battle,  perfectly  free  from  all  personal  con- 


142 


ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 


siderations,  and  unchecked  by  obstacles.  If  the 
shortest  path  lies  across  a  river,  he  swims  it ;  if  our 
banner  goes  forward  in  battle,  he  exults ;  if  it  re 
cedes,  he  is  not  despondent.  His  aspirations  mount 
as  he  looks  with  admiration  on  generals  sharing 
every  danger  with  their  men ;  and  when  our  right 
advance  is  rolled  up,  almost  as  a  scroll,  by  the 
sudden,  sharp,  and  overpowering  rush  of  rebel 
masses,  he  is  on  the  spot;  the  loss  of  a  horse, 
killed,  betokens  that  his  duties  have  not  been  with 
out  peril. 

General  Hooker,  nothing  daunted  by  the  result, 
still  contemplated  further  operations,  but  was  re 
strained  from  the  attempt  by  the  untoward  expira 
tion  of  the  terms  of  large  numbers  of  his  men, 
which,  with  the  loss  of  some  seventeen  thousand 
by  the  recent  battles,  reduced  the  force  too  low  to 
give  effect  to  a  great  movement. 

Some  time  passed,  therefore,  in  inaction,  during 
which  Captain  Dahlgren  employed  himself  in  such 
duties  as  presented.  The  tedium  was  relieved  by 
good  news  from  General  Grant,  in  the  valley  of  the 
Mississippi;  which  naturally  suggested  the  hope  of 
being  able  to  do  something  in  that  quarter. 

On  the  26th  May,  General  Hooker  visited  Wash 
ington,  bringing  Ulric  with  him, — being  his  first 
appearance  at  home  for  two  months;  a  home  ever 
cherished  in  his  memory  with  the  happy  hours  of 


CAMPAIGN  OF  GENERAL  HOOKER. 


earlier  days,  and  where  he  never  failed  to  be  wel 
comed  with  every  token  of  deep  affection. 

One  brief  respite,  one  fleeting  day  from  the  sum 
of  an  existence  itself  so  brief,  yet  all  devoted  to 
the  glorious  cause  of  humanity,  and  the  noble 
youth  once  more  departs  from  his  father's  door,  to 
abide  whatever  chances  coming  battle  may  bring. 
No  idle  duty  this;  for  the  legions  of  the  republic, 
defeated  and  reduced  in  numbers  by  two  great 
battles,  are  barely  competent  to  assure  the  de 
fense  of  the  capital,  and  to  prevent  another  raid 
from  being  pushed  nearer  home  than  that  of  last 
summer. 

This  time,  however,  the  rebel  leaders  will  not 
waste  their  strength  in  battle  on  their  own  soil,  but 
with  unweakened  ranks  will  avoid  the  Union  army, 
and  advance  by  a  flank  movement  up  the  valleys 
into  Maryland,  and  even  into  the  rich  fields  of 
Pennsylvania,  where  they  will  replenish  their  scanty 
stores,  and,  after  a  terrible  conflict  with  our  em 
battled  host,  will  recoil  with  severe  loss  from 
Northern  soil. 

The  probability  of  such  a  campaign  was  not  dis 
regarded  by  the  general ;  but  there  was  still  another 
plan  open  to  the  enemy's  offensive  operations,  and, 
as  the  initiatory  movements  for  either  were  alike, 
some  time  must  elapse  before  it  would  be  possible 
to  decide  which  object  was  in  view.  The  general 
had,  therefore,  the  difficult  task  of  providing  for 


144 


ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 


either  contingency  with  a  single  force,  so  that  it 
behooved  him  not  to  reduce  his  strength  by  di 
vision,  and  yet  to  await  the  gradual  unfolding  of 
the  rebel  design  upon  one  of  the  two  very  different 
routes. 

On  the  27th  May,  Ulric  Dahlgren  returns  to 
headquarters,  and  the  next  day  notices  some  little 
departure  from  the  daily  routine  of  camp-life.  A 
division  is  sent  to  watch  the  various  fords  of  the 
river, — Banks',  United  States,  Richard's,  and  Kel- 
ley's ;  field-works,  too,  are  in  progress  about  our 
position,  indicating  the  suspicion  of  an  aggressive 
move  by  the  enemy,  but  uncertainty  as  to  the 
direction  it  may  take,  whether  a  flank  march  north, 
or  a  direct  attack  on  the  capital. 

On  the  29th,  he  notes  in  his  diary  having  ob 
served  unusual  activity  among  the  rebels  across  the 
river, — something  seems  to  be  on  hand.  There  is 
a  review  of  about  twenty-five  regiments  and  four 
batteries,  by  some  notability  from  Richmond,  who 
afterwards  leaves  in  the  cars :  "  the  artillery  is  in  ex 
cellent  order,  but  too  many  ivhite  horses!' 

June  4,  our  spies  cross  the  river;  the  rebel  camp 
opposite  has  been  moved. 

Some  days  previous,  an  alarm  had  arisen  at 
Harper's  Ferry,  caused  by  the  rumor  that  the 
enemy  was  on  the  move  for  Maryland;  but, as  with 
many  such  reports,  it  was  difficult  to  decide  whether 
it  was  an  unfounded  apprehension,  or  one  of  those 


CAMPAIGN  OF  GENERAL  HOOKER.     145 

mysterious  warnings  that  sometimes  herald  impor 
tant  blows. 

Finally,  the  general  determined  to  feel  the  rebel 
positions  roughly,  and  thus  know  for  himself  some 
thing  of  the  enemy's  force  and  designs.  So,  on  the 
5th  of  June,  some  pontoons  were  sent  to  Franklin's 
Crossing;  our  men  pushed  over  and  cleared  the 
rifle-pits  with  slight  loss,  which  demonstration 
drew  the  rebels  in  force.  Ulric  seems  to  have  been 
present  on  this  occasion. 

Though  the  rebel  leaders  had  actually  begun 
that  move  on  the  3d  of  June,  which,  a  month  later, 
was  to  be  terminated  by  a  battle  in  Pennsylvania, 
yet  nothing  had  at  this  time  reached  our  camp  which 
justified  the  abandonment  of  the  line  of  the  Rappa- 
hannock.  Captain  Dahlgren  notes  that  the  enemy's 
movements  are  mysterious,  and  some  prisoners  re 
port  that  Longstreet  is  marching  for  Culpepper. 
Meanwhile  the  general  finds  that  a  force  of  cavalry 
is  collecting  at  Rappahannock  Station,  and,  suppos 
ing  that  the  raid  is  to  be  confined  to  this  column, 
determines  to  take  the  initiative,  and  strike  a  blow 
that  shall  damage  this  plan. 

General  Pleasonton  is  to  play  this  move;  and  on 
Captain  Dahlgren's  becoming  aware  of  it,  he 
obtains  permission  to  be  of  the  party.  His  diary 
(6th  June)  briefly  records,  "Pleasonton  preparing 
for  a  move.  I  will  join  him  in  the  morning." 


146  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

COMBAT  OF  BEVERLEY  FORD,  JUNE  9,  1863. 

Late  in  the  afternoon  of  June  7,  Captain  Dahl- 
gren  left  headquarters  with  instructions  for  General 
Pleasonton,  and  reached  him  late  next  day.  Our 
force  was  to  consist  of  all  the  cavalry  that  could 
be  spared,  with  two  picked  brigades  of  infantry, 
under  Generals  Ames  and  Russell,  and  a  battery 
to  each  brigade. 

General  Buford  was  to  cross  at  Beverley  Ford, 
and  General  Gregg  at  Kelley's  Ford,  each  sup 
ported  by  a  brigade  of  infantry  and  its  battery. 
They  were  to  converge  towards  Brandy  Station 
upon  the  rebel  flank. 

No  precaution  was  omitted  to  prevent  the  enemy 
from  having  intelligence  of  the  approach  of  this 
force.  It  advanced  towards  the  fords  only  after 
night,  and  no  fires  were  allowed.  All  of  these 
measures  were  perfectly  successful,  and  the  rebel 
cavalry  officer  seemed  to  be  entirely  unaware  of 
the  proximity  of  such  neighbors.  Indeed,  it  was 
reported  that  he  was  absent  just  at  the  moment. 

The  morning  of  the  Qth  of  June  was  beauti 
ful,  and  pleasantly  cool,  with  a  slight  mist  curling 
over  the  river -banks.  At  early  dawn  Buford's 
cavalry  dashed  over,  and  were  quickly  upon  the 
advance  of  the  astonished  rebels,  who  broke  at 
once,  and  made  for  a  woods  close  at  hand.  Colonel 
Davis,  who  led  the  New  York  8th,  followed,  and 


CAMPAIGN  OF  GENERAL  HOOKER. 


soon  encountered  a  superior  force,  which  compelled 
his  regiment  to  give  ground.  In  a  gallant  effort  to 
rally  the  men,  this  brave  officer  fell  mortally 
wounded;  but  the  8th  Illinois,  coming  up,  retrieved 
the  fight  and  drove  the  rebels  on  their  main  body, 
which  was  busily  endeavoring  to  form  some  two 
miles  from  the  river. 

Pleasonton  ordered  this  to  be  charged  in  flank, 
while  the  infantry  and  artillery  engaged  the  front. 

For  this  purpose  the  6th  Pennsylvania  was 
brought  up,  —  a  splendid  body  of  Lancer  cavalry. 
Near  the  head  of  the  column,  Ulric  Dahlgren,  who 
had  been  acting  as  aide  to  General  Pleasonton, 
placed  himself.  His  own  words,  in  a  letter  to  his 
father,  written  just  after  the  event,  will  best  convey 
his  impressions  of  this  gallant  charge  : 

"We  charged  General  F.  H.  Lee's  brigade  up  to 
General  Stuart's  headquarters,  and  within  one  hun 
dred  yards  of  their  artillery.  .  .  .  This  brigade 
was  drawn  up  in  mass  in  a  beautiful  field  one  -third 
of  a  mile  across,  —  woods  on  each  hand.  On  their 
side  was  a  ridge,  upon  which  was  posted  the  artil 
lery,  and  near  a  house  in  which  Stuart  had  his 
headquarters.  We  charged  in  column  of  compa 
nies.  When  we  came  out  of  our  woods  they 
rained  shell  into  us,  and  as  we  approached  nearer, 
driving  them  like  sheep  before  us,  they  threw  two 
rounds  of  grape  and  canister,  killing  as  many  of 
their  men  as  ours;  upon  which  they  stopped  firing 


148  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

and  advanced  their  carabineers.  All  this  time 
we  were  dashing  through  them,  killing  and  being 
killed;  some  were  trampled  to  death  in  trying 
to  jump  the  ditches  which  intervened,  and,  fall 
ing  in,  were  crushed  by  others  who  did  not  get 
over. 

"Major  Morris  commanded  the  regiment,  and  I 
was  riding  very  near  him,  when,  just  as  we  were 
jumping  a  ditch,  some  canister  came  along,  and  I 
saw  his  horse  fall  over  him,  but  could  not  tell 
whether  he  was  killed  or  not,  for  at  the  same  in 
stant  my  horse  was  shot  in  three  places.  He  fell, 
and  threw  me,  so  that  I  could  see  nothing  for  a 
few  moments.  Just  then  the  column  turned  to  go 
back, — finding  that  the  enemy  had  surrounded  us. 
I  saw  the  rear  passing  me,  and  about  to  leave  me 
behind,  so  I  gave  my  horse  a  tremendous  kick  and 
got  him  on  his  legs  again.  Finding  he  could  still 
move,  I  mounted  and  made  after  the  rest, — just 
escaping  being  taken. 

"  I  got  a  heavy  blow  over  the  arm  from  the  back 
of  a  saber,  which  bruised  me  somewhat,  and  nearly 
unhorsed  me.  .  .  .  After  that,  Buford  made 
five  successive  charges  against  their  line  before  he 
could  break  them,  losing  two  hundred  and  fifty 
men. 

"  So  we  fought  fourteen  hours,  finally  driving 
the  enemy  four  or  five  miles  ofT.  Night  coming 
on,  and  the  enemy  whipped,  we  crossed  the  river.  .  . 


CAMPAIGN  OF  GENERAL  HOOKER.      149 

"  We  are  all  delighted.  .  .  .  I  have  just  had 
the  balls  extracted  from  my  horse.  .  .  .  He 
was  my  best  horse,  and  the  bone  in  his  foreleg  is 
so  shattered  that  I  am  afraid  he  must  be  killed." 

An  eye -witness*  of  the  combat  writes: 

"  In  this  charge  we  lost  about  the  only  prisoners 
captured  by  the  enemy  during  the  day.  Major 
Morris  was  seen  to  fall  from  his  horse,  and  is  prob 
ably  wounded  and  a  prisoner.  Captain  Davis,  of 
the  same  regiment,  was  killed,  Captain  Leiper  was 
wounded,  and  Major  Hazeltine's  horse  shot  under 
him. 

"Captain  Dahlgren,  of  General  Hooker's  staff, 
a  model  of  cool  and  dauntless  bravery,  charged 
with  the  regiment,  and  his  horse  was  shot  in  two 
places." 

The  conflict  continued  with  varying  success 
until  noon,  soon  after  which  the  enemy  began  to 
exhibit  the  effect  of  General  Gregg's  presence  in 
his  rear,  coming  up  from  Kelley's  Ford.  The 
rebels  fell  back ;  the  Union  troops  reached  their 
camp,  and  General  Pleasonton  the  headquarters. 

The  enemy  was  pushed  back  steadily  for  three 
miles  from  the  river,  until  they  reached  strong  in 
fantry  supports.  It  was  now  late  in  the  afternoon, 
and  Pleasonton,  picking  up  his  wounded,  withdrew 

*  Mr.  Crounse,  of  the  New  York  Times. 

13* 


150  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

across  the   river,  unmolested   by  the   discomfited 
rebels. 

This  well-conceived  and  brilliantly-executed  blow 
was  some  solace  for  the  reverses  so  recently  expe 
rienced,  and  dissipated  a  few  of  the  unpleasant  mis 
givings  which  ill  fortune  is  apt  to  engender.  Ulric 
Dahlgren  had  that  day  given  another  earnest  of 
fervent  and  unabated  devotion  to  the  Union  cause. 
To  have  ridden,  as  he  did,  near  the  head  of  that  proud 
array  of  horsemen,  breast  to  breast  with  its  leading 
files,  when  it  dashed  like  a  thunderbolt, on  the  foe, 
was  a  memory  worth  preserving.  How  narrowly 
he  escaped  in  limb,  perhaps  in  life,  is  best  seen  from 
the  wounds  which  his  horse  received ;  a  little  higher 
sped,  and  he  would  have  been  left  on  the  field,  a 
wounded  captive,  perhaps  to  wear  out  the  remains 
of  life  in  one  of  those  horrible  dungeons  where  per 
ished  some  of  the  gallant  men  near  whom  he  rode 
that  day, — among  them  Major  Morris,  whom  he 
saw  fall  with  his  horse.  And  what  a  captivity ! 
Was  not  even  death  preferable  to  the  sufferings  to 
which  our  men  were  there  doomed?  Some,  indeed, 
did  survive,  and  were  at  last  permitted  to  return 
home ;  but  only  to  die.  Others  were  denied  even 
that  poor  boon  until  too  late,  and  gave  up  life  by 
the  way.  Who  shall  record  all  the  dark  horrors  of 
that  captivity? 

Ulric  Dahlgren  had  surely  earned  the  privilege 
of  undisturbed  repose  for  that  night;  but  he  remem- 


CAMPAIGN  OF  GENERAL  HOOKER.     151 

bercd  that  the  tidings  would  be  welcome  to  the 
general,  so  by  ten  o'clock  at  night  he  was  mounted, 
and  on  the  road  to  headquarters,  which  he  reached 
next  morning. 

The  welcome  tale  told,  the  young  soldier  resigned 
himself  to  rest ;  and  deep  must  have  been  the  slum 
bers  that  fell  on  his  wearied  frame. 

The  blow  had  been  well  aimed  and  stricken 
home,  but  it  did  not  arrest  the  march  of  the 
rebel  army ;  for  on  the  3d  it  was  in  motion,  and 
on  the  8th  was  at  Culpepper,  not  to  be  diverted 
from  its  purpose  of  despoiling  the  fields  and  flocks 
of  Pennsylvania.  A  week  later,  and  its  advance, 
under  Ewell,  was  at  Winchester. 

On  the  1 6th  of  June,  Captain  Ulric  arrived  at 
Washington,  with  a  communication  for  the  Presi 
dent,  looking  in  fine  health,  but  well  rid  of  super 
fluous  flesh.  The  errand  was  so  pressing  that  he 
remained  but  an  hour,  and  was  not  able  even  to 
revisit  his  home.  A  few  weeks  more  of  great 
events,  of  fierce  and  sanguinary  strife,  of  gallant  ex 
ploit,  and  he  will  be  borne  from  the  battle-field,  to 
that  home,  a  weary  sufferer,  destined  only  to  leave 
it  again  maimed  of  his  fair  proportions. 

There  he  shall  lie  and  wear  away  the  tardy  hours, 
and  hear  the  trumpet-sounds  around  him,  and  not 
respond,  compelled  to  look  calmly  on  that  death 
which  he  has  so  often  faced  in  stern  battle.  Glorious 
boy  !  he  proved  that  he  could  suffer  as  well  as  dare. 


152 


ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 


Some  days  after  his  hurried  visit  to  Washington, 
it  was  rumored  that  he  had  been  taken  prisoner 
in  one  of  the  cavalry  combats  near  the  mountain- 
passes  ;  but  that  was  never  to  be.  Whatever  ill 
fate  might  betide,  his  brave  spirit  was  never  to 
undergo  the  torture  that  was  reserved  by  rebel 
jailers  for  the  Union  soldiers  who  fell  into  their 
hands ;  their  savage  bonds  were  never  to  gall  his 
free  limbs.  Such  a  doom  he  dreaded  more  than 
death,  and  afterwards,  in  speaking  of  the  fate  of 
some  of  his  comrades,  he  said,  "Father,  they  sliall 
never  take  me  alive"  He  was  as  good  as  his  word. 

But  the  crisis  of  the  grand  drama  is  hastening  to 
its  consummation.  Great  armies  are  rushing  to 
encounter  each  other,  and  the  tramp  of  their  mighty 
hosts  shakes  the  solid  earth. 

Rebeldom  feels  that  its  grip  on  the  valley  of  the 
Mississippi  is  loosening.  One  hold  after  another  has 
been  wrenched  away.  Grant,  from  above,  and  Far- 
ragut,  from  below,  beleaguer  their  last  intrench- 
ment.  When  that  shall  have  been  gained,  the  great 
river  of  the  West  will  again  be  free,  and  the  pent- 
up  resources  of  the  people  that  border  its  upper 
waters  will  be  unlocked.  If  that  blow  can  be 
parried  by  one  as  great  at  the  national  capital, 
or  at  the  hitherto  untouched  fields  and  cities  of  the 
North,  then  is  there  still  hope  for  rebeldom. 

The  moment  is  favorable  for  this  counterblow ; 
for  the  heavy  losses  sustained  by  our  Army  of  the 


CAMPAIGN  OF  GENERAL  HOOKER.     153 

Potomac  in  two  reverses,  followed  by  the  release 
of  even  greater  numbers  whose  terms  have  expired, 
offer  an  opportunity  that  is  not  to  be  neglected.  So 
the  insurgent  leader  will  sweep  North,  and  risk  the 
fortunes  of  his  cause  in  Pennsylvania. 

The  preparation  of  the  rebels  has  been  so  favored 
by  circumstances,  however,  that  it  is  still  difficult 
to  divine  their  purposes.  Hooker,  calm  and  un 
shaken,  with  a  reduced  force,  is  compelled  to  await 
the  events  that  will  disclose  by  which  of  two  lines 
the  attack  will  proceed, — whether  directly  against 
the  capital  by  the  front,  or  by  a  flank  march  up  the 
valley  into  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania.  He  can 
not  divide  his  force,  or  even  much  separate  it.  It 
may  seem  like  hesitancy,  but  it  is  a  necessity  to  be 
sure  of  the  road  they  take,  before  he  abandons  the 
position  that  leads  in  either  direction. 

On  the  1 5th  of  June  he  informs  the  President, 
"  /  now  feel  that  invasion  is  his  settle  $  purpose  ;"  but 
there  is  doubt  elsewhere. 

On  the  1 8th,  there  can  be  no  longer  any  doubt. 
The  enemy  is  fully  committed  to  invasion  by  way  of 
the  valley,  and  Hooker  swings  round  the  corps  of  his 
army,  spreading  them  like  radii  from  Fairfax,  so  as 
to  command  the  upper  Potomac  and  the  passes  near 
Leesburg,  with  the  cavalry  feeling  the  flanking  force 
of  the  enemy.  This  brings  Pleasonton  in  contact 
with  his  former  antagonist,  Stuart,  just  as  he  is 
about  to  penetrate  the  gap  at  Aldie ;  and  our  men 


154  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

drive  the  rebels  back  to  Middleburg  after  some 
hard  fighting;  which  is  repeated  next  day  by 
Gregg,  and  further  enforced  on  the  2ist  by  the 
cavalry,  supported  by  infantry,  so  that  the  rebels 
are  pushed  off  the  ground  entirely. 

Ulric's  diary  notes  in  one  place,  "  Gregg  had  a 
fine  fight"  and  two  days  afterwards,  "Pleasonton 
fighting ;"  but  he  missed  both,  having  gone,  as  his 
notes  show,  "  with  Stahl" 

On  the  22d  of  June,  Captain  Dahlgren  was  sent 
down  to  examine  the  vicinity  of  Warrenton,  in 
order,  probably,  to  make  sure  that  no  rebel  force 
of  importance  had  been  left  behind.  He  found 
only  a  brigade  of  cavalry. 

By  the  24th,  there  is  no  doubt  that  the  whole 
rebel  army  is  across  the  Potomac;  and  Hooker 
moves  accordingly. 

Events  now  follow  quickly.  Lee  is  in  Cham- 
bersburg,  Hooker  has  followed  him  over  the  river, 
the  President  has  called  for  an  additional  levy  of 
one  hundred  thousand  men,*  and  a  great  collision 
is  impending.  It  seems  a  rash  measure  in  the  rebel 
leader  to  precipitate  his  army  into  our  midst,  cut 
loose  from  its  base,  save  by  the  attenuated  thread 
that  leads  through  the  valley,  and  retreat,  should 
such  a  movement  become  necessary,  embarrassed 
by  having  to  cross  a  large  river.  Hooker  is  rightly 

*  June  loth. 


CAMPAIGN  OF  GENERAL  HOOKER.     155 

placed  for  a  decisive  result,  if  he  had  the  force; 
but  it  is  the  whole  of  the  rebel  army,  and  not  a  part, 
that  he  has  to  deal  with ;  and  it  is  no  slight  matter 
to  destroy  such  a  force,  so  long  as  it  is  kept  to 
gether.  Still,  if  Hooker  can  control  the  numbers 
with  which  he  began  at  Chancellorsville,  it  is  not 
probable  that  rebeldom  will  haye  much  of  an  army 
left  to  rely  on. 

At  this  critical  moment,  just  when  the  eyes  of 
the  country  are  fixed  upon  the  coming  shock  of  the 
two  great  armies,  General  Hooker  is  relieved,  and 
the  command  given  to  General  Meade. 

The  brief  and  fragmentary  memoranda  of  the 
young  soldier  evince  his  usual  intentness  on  the 
work  in  hand ;  he  is  in  the  saddle  constantly,  and, 
by  following  the  scout  of  General  Stahl's  cavalry, 
loses  the  opportunity  of  being  in  the  combats  about 
Aldie. 

Speaking  of  him  about  this  time,  General  Hooker 
writes,  "  I  cannot  too  highly  commend  the  zeal, 
efficiency,  and  gallantry  which  have  characterized 
the  performance  of  his  duties  while  a  member  of 
my  staff." 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

% 

EIGHT    DAYS    OF   THE   GETTYSBURG    CAMPAIGN. 

FEW  commanders  have  ever  found  themselves 
so  suddenly  confronted  with  responsibilities 
as  grave  as  those  which  devolved  on  General 
Meade  when  he  was  called  to  assume  the  com 
mand  of  our  army,  on  the  28th  of  June,  1863. 

The  best  army  of  rebeldom,  estimated  at  one 
hundred  thousand  strong,  under  a  general  of  high 
reputation,  in  whom  both  officers  and  men  placed 
implicit  confidence,  had,  by  rapid  marches,  made 
its  way  into  Pennsylvania,  whence  it  menaced 
the  capital  of  that  State,  as  well  as  Washington, 
Baltimore,  and  Philadelphia,  while  it  commanded 
abundant  supplies  from  the  ample  resources  of  the 
surrounding  country. 

Our  own  army  had  been  compelled  to  delay  its 
movement  until  the  enemy  was  known  to  be  com 
mitted  to  his  plan  of  campaign,  and  was  now,  by 
forced  marches,  moving  up  to  give  battle  on  the 
first  convenient  ground ;  but  where  this  might  be 
was  as  yet  a  question.  The  unpremeditated  col- 


THE  GETTYSBURG   CAMPAIGN. 


157 


lision  of  advanced  detachments  finally  determined 
it  at  Gettysburg. 

On  the  ist  of  July,  our  cavalry  under  Buford, 
being  posted  to  the  westward  of  that  town,  was 
attacked  by  a  division  of  rebel  infantry,  and,  though 
much  pressed,  succeeded  in  holding  the  ground 
until  General  Reynolds  arrived  with  two  corps. 
Meanwhile  the  van  of  the  rebel  army  was  coming 
into  action,  and  a  severe  engagement  ensued.  The 
Union  troops,  after  a  stubborn  conflict,  were  com 
pelled  to  recede  before  overpowering  numbers, 
and  fell  back  in  good  order  through  the  town  to 
the  Cemetery  Ridge,  —  a  position  so  strong  that 
the  enemy  relinquished  further  attack  for  the  day. 
Among  the  noble  slain  was  the  truly  gallant 
Reynolds. 

On  hearing  the  first  tidings  of  the  move 
ment,  General  Meade  ordered  his  advancing  corps 
rapidly  to  the  support  of  those  in  front ;  and  by 
the  next  day  the.  Union  army  was  in  position 
on  the  Cemetery  Ridge,  near  Gettysburg.  About 
half-past  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  the  enemy 
vigorously  attacked  our  left  under  Sickles.  After 
some  severe  fighting,  this  corps  was  obliged  to 
yield  to  the  heavy  pressure  of  greater  numbers, 
and  to  take  ground  a  little  rearward  of  the  first 
position ;  but  the  general  result  was,  in  fact,  a  re 
pulse  of  the  enemy. 

The  grand  effort  of  the  rebel  army  was  reserved 
14 


158  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

for  the  3d  of  July.  It  began  about  noon,  and  was 
made  along  our  whole  line,  preceded  by  a  tremen 
dous  artillery  fire  from  more  than  a  hundred  pieces. 
The  rebel  columns  rushed  to  the  assault,  but  were 
met  with  such  steadiness  and  valor  that  they  finally 
recoiled,  and  withdrew  from  the  battle. 

Thus  ended  the  invasion  of  Union  soil  by  the 
rebel  hordes,  and,  as  an  immediate  consequence  of 
defeat,  they  were  obliged  to  fall  back.  On  the 
4th,  they  drew  in  their  left  as  a  preliminary  meas 
ure,  and  on  the  5th  were  in  full  retreat  by  the 
Fairfield  and  Cashtown  roads. 

The  only  clue  to  the  part  which  fell  to  Ulric 
Dahlgren  during  the  great  struggle  at  Gettysburg 
is  to  be  found  in  the  few  lines  which  he  hastily 
penciled  in  the  small  memorandum-book  that  he 
usually  carried  for  noting  orders  or  items  in  rela 
tion  to  staff  business,  and  in  the  letters  of  corre 
spondents  of  the  press,  whose  notice  was  attracted 
to  him,  as  he  came  within  their  sphere  of  observa 
tion.  It  is  impossible,  therefore,  to  give  more  than 
a  bare  outline  of  his  connection  with  the  varying 
events  of  those  memorable  days. 

It  would  appear  that  General  Meade  made  no 
changes  in  the  staff  of  his  predecessor,  and  that 
Captain  Dahlgren  continued  to  occupy  the  same 
position  which  he  had  held  with  General  Hooker. 
But,  instead  of  the  ordinary  routine  of  staff-duty, 


THE   GETTYSBURG    CAMPAIGN. 


159 


he  had  been  permitted  to  follow  his  own  sugges 
tions  in  observing  the  rear  and  flank  of  the  enemy, 
intercepting  dispatches,  cutting  off  trains,  and 
harassing  communications  with  such  detachments 
as  he  was  able  to  procure  from  different  command 
ing  officers. 

While  the  great  army  of  the  Union  is  gathering 
up  for  the  strife,  and  its  leaders,  with  calmness  and 
deliberation,  are  about  to  place  it  right  in  the  path 
of  the  invader,  the  young  captain  notes  with  quick 
eye  the  lengthened  lines  by  which  the  enemy  holds 
to  his  base  in  Virginia.  Like  attenuated  threads, 
they  stretch  over  hill  and  dale,  flood  and  field,  each 
one,  in  all  its  parts,  vital  to  the  existence  of  the 
rebel  army.  The  least  blow  struck  there  will 
vibrate  to  the  very  heart  of  that  host;  so  he  loses 
no  time  in  asking  for  a  squad  of  cavalry ;  but  few 
can  now  be  spared  from  the  struggle  that  is  im 
pending,  and  he  departs  on  his  adventurous  mis 
sion  with  scarcely  enough  men  to  assure  the  safety 
of  a  dispatch. 

His  own  memorandum,  about  this  time,  runs 

thus :  "At  M.*  proposed  to  General  to  take 

some  men  and  operate  on  the  rebel  rear.  He,  then 
anxious  about  the  movements  of  the  army,  did  not 
give  the  matter  much  attention.  T/ien  applied  to 
General  P.,  who  ordered  a  sergeant  and  fifteen  men 

*  Middleburg. 


!6o  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

to  report, — only  ten  came.  With  these  and  four  scouts, 
under  Sergeant  Cline,  we  started  out." 

With  such  scanty  force,  nothing  of  importance 
could  have  been  expected ;  but  in  this,  as  in  other 
instances,  it  is  noteworthy  that  no  seeming  lack  of 
means  ever  discouraged  the  young  soldier,  or 
wrung  from  him  the  slightest  token  of  dissatisfac 
tion.  He  accepted  without  demur  whatever  was 
offered,  and  proceeded  in  his  enterprise  with  alacrity 
and  cheerfulness. 

So  far  as  it  is  possible  to  obtain  any  particulars 
from  the  scanty  information  which  we  have  in  re 
gard  to  the  course  taken  by  Ulric  Dahlgren  with 
this  party  on  the  3Oth  of  June  and  ist  of  July,  it 
would  seem  that  he  went  directly  to  the  rear  of  the 
rebel  army,  seeking  for  an  opportunity  to  strike  at 
some  weak  or  unguarded  point  of  its  communica 
tions. 

For  some  days  prior  to  the  3Oth  of  June,  the 
enemy's  headquarters  had  been  at  Chambersburg, 
having  one  corps  thrown  out  northward,  ransacking 
the  country  as  far  as  Carlisle  and  York;  and  on 
the  3<Dth  (Tuesday),  the  whole  army  reunited  on 
the  road  to  Gettysburg,  so  that  on  the  ist  of  July 
(Wednesday)  its  advance  came  into  contact,  as 
already  stated,  with  our  advance  near  that  village. 

The  accumulation  of  their  masses  on  this  line 
must  have  limited  the  enemy's  communication  with 
Williamsport  to  detached  posts  of  no  great  strength, 


THE  GETTYSBURG    CAMPAIGN.          161 

thus  restricting  their  action  very  much,  and  leaving 
the  roads  open  to  our  light  cavalry. 

The  course  pursued  by  Captain  Dahlgren  seems 
to  indicate  that  he  surmised  this  to  be  the  case,  and 
acted  accordingly;  for  it  would  appear  that,  keep 
ing  to  the  southward  of  the  rebel  army,  he  struck 
for  Greencastle,  a  small  town  on  the  road  from 
Chambersburg  to  Williamsport,  and  about  half 
way  between  the  two  places.  Probably  without 
entering  it,  but  only  hovering  about  its  outskirts, 
he  learned  in  some  way  that  the  opposing  armies 
were  in  collision  on  the  1st  of  July,  for  fcis  note 
book  is  penciled  as  follows  : 

"  Wednesday,  July  I,  1863. — Reynolds  killed  near 
Gettysburg ;  fell  back'' 

On  the  2d  of  July  (Thursday),  whilst  the  rebel 
commander  was  preparing  for  the  onslaught  upon 
our  advanced  left,  under  General  Sickles,  Captain 
Dahlgren,  still  watching  Greencastle,  entered  that 
town  and  captured  some  dispatches,  which  he  must 
have  had  reason  to  believe  were  important,  as  he 
took  the  road  himself,  forthwith,  for  our  head 
quarters. 

The  distance  from  Greencastle  to  Gettysburg  is 
not  less  than  thirty  miles  by  the  nearest  road  (Fair- 
field),  and  the  sagacity  of  the  young  soldier  is  said 
to  have  been  strikingly  displayed  in  the  precautions 
which  he  used  to  avoid  the  scattered  parties  of 
rebels  that  were  likely  to  be  encountered. 
14* 


1 62  ULRIC  DA  HUG  REN. 

His  note-book  is  penciled  thus : 

"  Thursday,  July  2. — Captured  dispatches  in  Green- 
castle.  Reached  the  battle-field  near  Gettysburg  at 
night.  Hard  fighting." 

A  ride  of  thirty  miles  over  mountain  roads, 
through  a  country  covered  by  the  enemy,  must 
have  been  no  insignificant  addition  to  a  day's  work. 
No  doubt,  too,  it  was  late  in  the  night  when  he 
reached  the  battle-field,  for  the  last  assault  of  the 
rebels  had  been  made  about  dark.  His  remark 
"hard  fighting"  probably  applied  to  the  terrible 
results  of  battle  that  strewed  the  ground  so  thickly 
in  every  direction,  and  speaks  more  emphatically 
than  the  most  labored  description  of  what  that 
hardy  soldier  saw.  For  at  this  time  our  losses 
amounted  to  twenty  thousand  men,* — an  army  in 
itself. 

The  rebels  had  fallen  in  force  upon  our  left  about 
half-past  three  P.M.,  and  a  most  sanguinary  struggle 
had  continued  until  seven  o'clock  in  the  evening; 
they  still  held  to  their  position,  as  if  meditating 
further  assault. 

A  council  of  war  had  been  called  after  darkness 
set  in,  and  met  before  the  last  signs  of  battle  had 
entirely  ceased. 

The  results  which  Captain  Dahlgren  was  able  to 
present,  as  well  as  the  information  he  had  obtained 

*  General  Meade,  p.  350. 


THE  GETTYSBURG    CAMPAIGN.          163 

of  the  condition  of  the  rebel  communications,  seem 
to  have  had  the  effect  of  procuring  fpr  Jiim  a  larger 
force  to  operate  with ;  and  he  left  the  camp  early 
the  next  morning  (Friday,  July  3d),  in  order  to  re 
turn  to  Greencastle,  which  he  seemed  to  consider 
the  preferable  point  for  his  operations.  A  ride  of 
ten  miles  brought  him  to  Emmittsburg,  where  was 
a  brigade  of  cavalry  under  General  Merritt,  who 
kindly  let  him  have  one  hundred  men  of  the  6th 
Pennsylvania  Cavalry.  With  this  force  he  rode 
some  fifteen  miles  farther,  and  halted  near  Waynes- 
boro'  for  the  night.  His  note-book  says  : 

"Friday,  July  3. — Started  out  early  for  Greencastle. 
Got  one  hundred  men  at  Emmittsburg  from  General 
Merritt.  Stopped  at  night  near  Waynesbortf  " 

Meanwhile,  events  were  transpiring  which  justi 
fied  the  young  soldier's  selection  of  a  field  for  his 
operations. 

Whilst  he  was  rapidly  moving  along  the  road  to 
Waynesboro',  the  rebel  leader  had  flung  his  entire 
army  against  our  position  at  Gettysburg,  with  a 
desperation  that  showed  how  fully  he  felt  com 
mitted  to  some  result.  He  himself  beheld  from  a 
rising  ground  the  reckless  efforts  of  his  battalions, 
and  saw  the  open  space  between  the  positions  cov 
ered  with  his  men,  slowly  and  sullenly  returning  in 
broken  parties  under  the  heavy  fire  of  our  artillery, 
leaving  many  behind  who  would  never  rise  again. 
Well  might  he  exclaim  to  his  English  friend  who 


1 64  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

stood  by,*  "  This  has  been  a  sad  day  for  us,  colonel, 
— a  sad  day 7" 

The  conflict  lasted  for  two  hours,  and  at  five 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon  ceased. 

Nothing  of  this  could  have  been  known  to  Ulric 
Dahlgren  when  he  summoned  his  little  band  from 
their  rough  bivouac,  long  before  the  break  of  day, 
on  the  morning  of  the  4th  of  July;  though  he  no 
doubt  anticipated  the  retreat  of  the  rebel  army  from 
what  he  had  seen  and  heard  on  the  field  of  battle 
during  the  night  of  the  2d. 

He  has  about  ten  miles  to  ride  to  reach  Green- 
castle,  and  some  of  Jenkins's  cavalry  are  harboring 
there ;  but  they  will  not  be  allowed  much  warning 
of  his  approach.  The  ride  into  Fredericksburg 
will  be  repeated,  and  with  like  success. 

About  two  o'clock  in  the  morning,  while  the 
birds  are  still  quiet  in  the  trees,  his  troopers  are 
in  the  saddle  and  ride  forward  The  east  is  but 
red  with  the  coming  morn,  when  Ulric  Dahlgren 
breaks  into  the  town  and  attacks  the  enemy,  who 
little  dream  of  what  is  at  hand.  A  severe  conflict 
ensues,  but  the  rebels  are  finally  routed,  and  driven 
out  with  such  loss  that  they  make  no  effort  to 
disturb  their  young  antagonist  in  his  possession. 
And  thus  he  wins  the  town  as  he  won  Fredericks- 
burg,  and  can  even  hold  it  long  enough  to  await 

*  Colonel  Freemantle. 


THE  GETTYSBURG    CAMPAIGN.         165 

the  further  retrograde  movement  of  the  rebel 
army. 

The  record  of  the  day  is  very  briefly  set  down  : 

"Saturday,  July  4. — Started  at  two  A.M.  At 
tacked  Jenkins's  cavalry  in  Greencastle.  Whitcford 
captured  Paymaster'' 

There  must  have  been  much  of  incident  in  the 
exploit  that  was  gladdening  to  the  gallant  youth, 
for  the  feeling  peeps  out  in  a  desultory  note,  thus : 

"  Passed  the  4th  in  Greencastle.  The  enemy's 
communications  entirely  destroyed.  Remained  in 
the  town  all  day,  feeling  proud  of  our  work.  Citi 
zens  very  uneasy  about  our  being  there." 

Assuredly  a  very  fitting  celebration  of  our  na 
tional  anniversary,  and  well  calculated  to  awaken 
emotions  of  pride  in  the  hearts  of  this  American 
band. 

It  was  one  ray  of  that  triumph  which,  on  that 
day,  renewed  the  hopes  of  our  great  republic,  and 
gave  assurance  that  it  should  not  be  divided,  nor 
its  glory  depart  from  it.  One  rebel  army  surren 
dered  at  Vicksburg,  and  the  West  was  disenthralled ; 
another  army  had  just  met  with  retributive  disaster 
at  Gettysburg,  and  was  about  to  seek  safety  in 
flight. 

A  glance  at  the  situation  discloses  the  miserable 
prospects  of  the  great  host  of  the  insurrection  at 
this  moment.  Its  retreat  had  been  decided  on 
early  in  the  morning.  The  main  body  of  our 


1 66  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

cavalry  had  reached  Emmittsburg  about  noon  to 
harass  the  retreat ;  heavy  rain  was  falling,  and  the 
immense  train  of  ill-gotten  plunder,  filched  from 
the  Pennsylvania  farmers  by  General  Ewell,  was 
slowly  wending  its  way  along  the  Fairfield  road  to 
Hagerstown. 

That  night  the  rebels  commenced  their  retro 
grade  march. 

July  5th,  though  Sunday,  was  to  be  no  day  of  rest 
either  for  victors  or  vanquished.  It  was  no  doubt 
early  when  Ulric  Dahlgren  was  again  on  the  road 
from  Greencastle;  and  it  is  more  than  probable 
that  he  moved  directly  towards  Waynesboro',  for 
the  line  which  the  retreat  might  be  expected  to 
follow.  His  calculation  was  just,  and  he  was  not 
long  in  falling  in  with  a  column  of  the  enemy ;  but 
its  force  was  far  beyond  that  of  his  small  command, 
and  no  little  management  was  required  to  avoid 
disaster.  There  was  a  train  of  six  hundred  wagons, 
but  with  them  were  two  regiments,  one  of  infantry 
and  one  of  cavalry,  with  a  battery  of  artillery. 
Allowing  the  advance  and  part  of  the  train  to  pass, 
Captain  Dahlgren  dashed  in  upon  the  rebels  while 
in  a  defile,  and,  dividing  his  force,  worked  to  front 
and  rear.  One  hundred  and  seventy-six  wagons 
were  destroyed,  and  two  hundred  prisoners  cap 
tured,  with  three  hundred  horses,  and  one  piece  of 
artillery.  But  the  alarm  soon  spread,  and  the 
enemy  came  rapidly  on  the  daring  little  band  in 


THE  GETTYSBURG    CAMPAIGN.         167 

such  overwhelming  numbers  that  escape  was  diffi 
cult,  and  barely  possible.  Captain  Dahlgren's  horse 
was  killed,  and  it  was  only  by  dispersing  his  men 
in  different  directions  amid  the  deep  forest,  that  he 
avoided  close  pursuit,  and  contrived  to  reach  the 
vicinity  of  Boonsboro'. 

The  memorandum  says : 

"Sunday,  July  5. — Attacked  and  destroyed  one 
hundred  and  seventy-six  wagons.  Captured  two 
hundred  prisoners,  and  three  hundred  horses,  and  one 
piece  of  artillery,  wliicli  ivas  retaken.  Made  our  way 
to  near  Boonsboro '.  Kilpatrick  fighting  near  Smith- 
burg!' 

In  the  mean  time,  General  Kilpatrick  was  ap 
proaching  from  another  direction,  and  had  fallen 
upon  other  trains  in  the  mountain-passes,  reach 
ing  Smithburg  about  nine  o'clock,  where  he  was 
soon  attacked  by  a  large  force  of  the  enemy,  but 
held  to  the  town  until  dark,  when  he  drew  off  and 
marched  for  Boonsboro'. 

Meanwhile,  the  rebel  army  was  undergoing  some 
of  the  consequences  which  their  cause  so  well  de 
served.  After  leaving  a  small  army  of  their  com 
rades  on  the  field  of  battle,  they  are  now  seeking  to 
escape  into  Virginia;  and  a  glance  at  their  condition 
is  thus  given  by  the  sympathizing  English  friend 
who  just  then  was  meditating  a  leave-taking  of 
them  and  their  troubles  : 

"  The  night  was  very  bad,  thunder  and  lightning, 


1 68  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

torrents  of  rain,  the  road  knee-deep  in  mud  and 
water,  and  often  blocked  up  with  wagons  '  come  to 
grief.'  I  pitied  the  wretched  plight  of  the  unfor 
tunate  soldiers  who  were  to  follow  us.  Our  progress 
was  naturally  very  slow  indeed,  and  we  took  eight 
hours  to  go  as  many  miles. 

"At  eight  A.M.  we  halted  a  little  beyond  the 
village  of  Fairfield,  near  the  entrance  to  a  mountain- 
pass.  No  sooner  had  we  done  so  and  lit  a  fire, 
than  an  alarm  was  spread  that  Yankee  cavalry  were 
upon  us.  Several  shots  flew  over  our  heads,  but 
we  never  could  discover  from  whence  they  came. 
News  also  arrived  of  the  capture  of  the  whole  of 
Ewell's  beautiful  wagons.  These  reports  created  a 
regular  stampede  among  the  wagoners,"  etc. 

July  6th,  Monday, — the  last  day  of  service  that 
Ulric  Dahlgren  shall  render  to  his  country  for  a 
long  while.  Entering  Boonsboro'  early  in  the 
morning,  he  found  General  Kilpatrick,  then  prepar 
ing  to  move  out  in  search  of  the  enemy.  Believing 
that  his  trains  would  be  met  about  Hagerstown,  the 
road  was  taken  to  that  place,  distant  about  ten  miles. 
Reaching  the  town,  the  pickets  were  quickly  driven 
in,  and  the  attack  began.  Among  the  foremost 
was  a  squadron  of  the  i8th  Pennsylvania  Cavalry, 
under  Captain  Lindsay ;  with  it  were  also  Lieu 
tenant-Colonel  Brinley,  and  Captains  Chauncey, 
Russell,  and  Snyder.  Captain  Dahlgren,  and  what 
was  left  of  his  command,  rode  with  this  party. 


THE  GETTYSBURG    CAMPAIGN.          ^9 

The  general  had  just  made  his  dispositions  for 
attack,  and  was,  indeed,  about  to  carry  them  into 
execution,  when  it  was  discovered  that  the  head  of 
a  rebel  column  was  entering  the  town,  composed  of 
infantry,  cavalry,  and  artillery,  in  such  force  as  to 
render  any  attempt  useless.  It  was  decided,  there 
fore,  to  select  some  other  place  for  attack ;  but  the 
recall  was  too  late  for  the  leading  detachment,  which 
was  already  committed  to  the  perilous  adventure. 

Mr.  Paul,  the  correspondent  of  a  leading  paper, 
thus  describes  what  followed : 

"  The  party  charged  into  the  town,  up  the  first 
street  to  where  it  enters  Potomac  Street.  The  main 
portion  of  the  party  turned  to  the  right,  up  Potomac 
Street.  Captains  Dahlgren  and  Lindsay  turned  to 
the  left,  in  pursuit  of  five  men  who  took  the  first 
street  to  the  right,  and  were  closely  followed.  One 
took  deliberate  aim  at  Captain  Lindsay  and  killed 
him.  Captain  Dahlgren  immediately  cut  down  the 
man  with  his  saber,  and  so  the  fight  was  kept  up 
for  some  time." 

Meanwhile,  showers  of  bullets  came  on  the  de 
voted  party  from  every  direction, — from  streets, 
alleys,  and  houses.  Several  of  our  men  were  killed, 
others  were  wounded  and  left  behind,  and  it  only 
remained  to  get  out  of  the  town  as  quickly  as  pos 
sible.  Captain  Dahlgren  was  already  wounded; 
the  sensation  was  so  slight,  that  he  thought  it 
was  nothing  more  than  a  glancing  ball,  and  little 


ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 


dreamed  that  his  heavy  boot  and  foot  had  been 
pierced.  But  he  must  now  turn  with  the  remnant 
of  his  party  and  ride  for  life.  His  good  steed  once 
more  bears  him  from  captivity  or  death,  and  then 
he  falls  from  the  saddle,  exhausted  by  loss  of  blood. 
Friendly  hands  are  near  to  receive  the  wounded 
soldier  and  bear  him  to  an  ambulance. 

And  thus,  by  the  mysterious  decrees  of  Provi 
dence,  the  gallant  youth  is  not  permitted  to  witness 
the  better  fortunes  of  the  cause  for  which  he  has 
striven  so  hard  through  good  and  ill  report,  nor  to 
look  upon  the  remnant  of  that  mighty  army  that 
has  desolated  so  much  of  his  native  State  and  struck 
terror  to  its  homes,  but  which  is  now  receding, 
with  shattered  ranks,  and  seeking  the  friendly 
shelter  of  its  own  soil,  leaving  one-fourth  of  its 
number  on  the  battle-field  or  captive,  —  the  path  of 
its  retreat  marked  by  every  evidence  of  the  signal 
disaster  that  has  befallen  it.  It  would  be  some 
compensation  for  what  he  has  seen  in  previous  re 
verses,  if  he  could  now  advance  with  the  victorious 
Eagles  of  the  Republic  and  join  in  the  triumph. 
But  that  was  not  to  be. 

It  would  appear  that  the  large  force  which  had 
been  encountered  entering  Hagerstown  was,  in 
reality,  the  escort  of  the  rebel  leader  himself,  if  we 
may  judge  from  the  narrative  of  the  English  Colo- 


THE   GETTYSBURG    CAMPAIGN.          171 

nel  Freemantle,  who  says,  "A  short  time  before  we 
reached  Hagerstown  there  was  some  firing  in  front, 
together  with  an  alarm  that  the  Yankee  cavalry 
was  upon  us.  The  ambulances  were  sent  back. 
After  a  good  deal  of  desultory  skirmishing,  we 
seated  ourselves  upon  a  hill  overlooking  Hagers 
town,  and  saw  the  enemy's  cavalry  driven  through 
the  town,  pursued  by  yelling  Confederates.  A  good 
many  Yankee  prisoners  now  passed  us. 

"  About  seven  P.M.  we  rode  through  Hagerstown, 
in  the  streets  of  which  were  several  dead  horses, 
and  a  few  dead  men." 

The  alarm  and  excitement  which  had  been  cre 
ated  amidst  the  rebel  host  may  be  conceived  from 
the  following  off-hand  sketch  by  the  same  writer, 
who  was  an  eye-witness,  and  certainly  not  disposed 
to  throw  ridicule  on  his  rebel  friends:  "After  pro 
ceeding  about  a  mile  beyond  the  town,  we  halted, 
and  General  Longstreet  sent  four  cavalrymen  up 
a  lane,  with  directions  to  report  everything  they 
saw.  We  then  dismounted  and  lay  down.  About 
ten  minutes  later  (being  nearly  dark),  we  heard  a 
sudden  rush,  a  pause,  and  then  a  regular  stampede 
commenced,  in  the  midst  of  which  I  descried  our 
four  cavalry  heroes  crossing  a  field  as  fast  as  they 
could  gallop.  All  was  now  complete  confusion ; 
officers  mounting  their  horses  and  pursuing  those 
which  had  got  loose,  and  soldiers  climbing  over 
fences  for  protection  against  the  supposed  advanc- 


1/2 


ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 


ing  Yankees.  In  the  middle  of  the  din,  I  heard  an 
artillery  officer  shouting  to  his  cannoneers  to  stand 
by  him  and  plant  the  guns  in  a  proper  position 
for  enfilading  the  lane.  I  also  distinguished  Long- 
street  walking  about,  hustled  by  the  excited  crowd, 
and  remarking  in  angry  tones  which  could  scarcely 
be  heard,  and  to  which  no  attention  was  paid. 
Whilst  the  row  and  confusion  were  at  their  height, 
the  object  of  all  this  alarm  at  length  emerged  from 
the  dark  lane,  in  the  shape  of  a  domestic  four- 
wheeled  carriage  with  a  harmless  load  of  females. 
The  stampede  had,  however,  spread,  increased  in 
the  rear,  and  caused  much  harm  and  delay." 


CHAPTER    IX. 

WOUNDED   AND   AT   HOME. 

A  FTER  being  lifted  from  his  saddle,  Ulric 
•£*•  Dahlgren  was  conveyed  to  an  ambulance, 
where  he  remained  all  night.  The  wound  had  not 
yet  become  painful,  but  his  ears  were  still  filled 
with  the  shouts  of  the  combatants,  the  clash  of 
sabers,  the  ring  of  pistol-shots,  and  the  cries  of 
the  wounded,  until  sleep  settled  upon  the  tired 
frame,  so  little  accustomed  of  late  to  its  undis 
turbed  indulgence,  and  snatched  the  thoughts  of 
the  weary  soldier  from  present  pain  and  future 
misgivings.  His  note-book  only  records, — "  Foot 
not  very  painful.  Slept  ivell" 

The  next  day  his  journey  homeward  was  begun, 
and  he  reached  Boonsboro' ;  but  how  changed  in 
condition  since  yesterday,  when  he  left  it,  flushed 
with  health  and  hope,  among  the  foremost  horse 
men  in  that  retributive  tide  which  menaced  the 
retreating  rebels  with  repayment  of  their  misdeeds! 
Then  the  speed  of  his  fleetest  horse  failed  to  meet 
his  eager  wishes ;  now  he  is  the  helpless  tenant  of 
i5*  (i73) 


174  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

an  ambulance  that  tardily  wends  its  way  over  the 
dusty  and  weary  miles. 

At  this  place  the  surgeon  removed  several  pieces 
of  fractured  bone  from  the  wound ;  and  he  notes, 
— "  Foot  easy  and  comfortable.  Slept  well'' 

Next  day  the  journey  was  continued  to  Freder 
ick  ;  and  the  patient  must  have  been  still  free  from 
pain, — for  his  note-book  says,  "Foot  easy,  —  no 
fever;"  but  the  premonition  of  coming  trouble 
reached  him  in  the  opinion  expressed  within  hear 
ing  that  "  the  foot  had  better  come  off" 

It  is  some  time  after  dark  on  Thursday  (Qth  July) 
when  the  car  which  bears  the  youthful  officer 
reaches  the  Washington  depot,  and  his  eyes  are 
gladdened  by  resting  on  the  faces  of  cherished 
friends,  who  have  come  to  tender  their  kind  offices. 
The  litter  is  carried  along  the  streets  by  a  few 
soldiers,  and  soon  arrives  at  the  well-known  door 
of  his  father's  house;  then  they  carefully  lift  the 
sufferer  along  that  stairway  up  which  his  lithe  foot 
had  hitherto  ever  bounded  at  full  spring,  and  lay 
him  in  the  chamber  of  early  days. 

Loss  of  blood,  and  pain,  and  discomfort  have 
made  sad  inroads  already  on  his  hardy  frame ;  but 
the  sight  of  old  familiar  faces  recalls  something 
of  the  past,  and  his  eye  once  more  beams  with 
pleasure  as  it  ranges  over  the  objects  that  revive 
past  memories. 

An  examination   of  the  wound   is   made  by  a 


WOUNDED  AND  AT  HOME. 


175 


skillful  surgeon  ;  and  then  the  young  soldier  turns 
to  the  rest  which  service  and  suffering  have  made 
so  grateful.  The  last  waking  thought  is  no  longer 
given  to  the  midnight  call  which  is  to  arouse  him 
and  his  men  to  new  enterprise  on  the  morrow.  His 
utmost  has  been  done,  without  reckoning  cost  or 
consequence,  and  now,  for  the  time  at  least,  he 
can  do  no  more. 

Next  day,  even  the  change  from  the  litter  to  a 
bed  fatigues  the  stout  nature  which,  till  then,  has 
been  equal  to  demands  that  few  could  have  sus 
tained  so  well ;  and  the  sounds  of  the  battle  which 
he  has  left  still  ring  in  his  ears.  He  cannot  shut 
them  out,  though  several  days  have  elapsed  since 
they  were  heard. 

Friends  crowd  around  him  to  offer  soothing 
sympathy  in  every  form.  Among  the  first  to  sit 
by  his  bedside,  with  kindly  words  of  heart-felt 
sympathy,  is  Mr.  Lincoln.  As  he  looks  upon  the 
youth  in  whom  he  has  ever  evinced  so  much  in 
terest,  now  tortured  with  agony  which  no  words 
can  describe,  tears  unbidden  come.  Well  for  both 
is  it,  that  the  misty  veil  that  hides  the  future  is 
impenetrable  to  mortal  eye ! 

Hardly  a  week  at  home,  and  the  strength  is  fail 
ing  fast.  The  heat  of  July,  too,  is  taxing  heavily  the 
remaining  powers.  Every  attention  that  the  most 
anxious  solicitude  can  suggest  is  constantly  given. 
Of  the  many  who  inquire,  he  can  see  but  few, 


i;6  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

among  them  his  old  commander,  General  Hooker : 
and  the  Secretary  of  War  comes  in  person  to  tell 
him  of  his  promotion,  but  the  youthful  hero  is  too 
ill  to  hear  of  it. 

Then  his  kind  uncle,  Mr.  S.  Abbott  Lawrence, — 
true-hearted  gentleman  and  patriot, — leaves  his 
pleasant  summer  retreat  in  Newport  to  visit  his 
nephew, — his  own  failing  health  scarcely  equal  to 
endure  fatigue.  Before  another  year  rolls  round, 
both  he  and  the  object  of  his  care  will  be  num 
bered  with  the  dead.  About  this  time,  too,  comes 
a  letter  from  his  father  off  Charleston,  which  tells 
of  the  capture  of  the  Southern  defenses  on  Morris 
Island.  How  his  eye  rekindles  with  its  old  luster 
at  the  tidings !  But  that  father  little  dreamed  of 
the  dangerous  condition  of  his  son. 

The  period  at  length  arrives  when  amputation 
can  no  longer  be  delayed  with  any  hope  of  saving 
life.  The  announcement  of  the  surgeons  is  re 
ceived  with  his  usual  fortitude.  But,  as  if  so  great 
a  misfortune  were  not  trouble  sufficient  for  the 
nonce,  a  letter  comes  saying  that  his  brother  is 
lying  very  ill  in  Cincinnati,  and  unable  to  travel 
farther,  in  consequence  of  disease  contracted  at  the 
siege  of  Vicksburg. 

Such  tidings  the  patient  must  not  hear.  The 
nerves  that  could  listen  to  the  roar  of  cannon  as 
music,  and  face  unmoved  the  shock  of  charging 
squadrons,  will  not  now  brook  the  sound  of  a  foot- 


WOUNDED  AND  AT  HOME.  ijj 

fall.  The  passage  of  vehicles  by  that  silent  house 
is  suspended,  and  a  cavalry  picket  is  placed  near 
the  door  to  enforce  the  order.  Even  the  tinkling 
bell  that  gives  notice  of  kind  inquiries  must  now 
be  mute.  Nor  may  he  be  told  of  his  promotion  to 
a  rank  which  his  best  hopes  looked  not  to,  as  yet. 
In  full  health  it  would  drive  wild  his  calmest  pulse, 
—now  it  might  snap  the  thread  of  life ;  so  the  paper 
that  carries  the  tidings  lies  quietly  within  reach,  its 
tale  untold. 

Well,  there  is  no  help  for  it;  the  young  soldier 
must  be  mutilated  of  his  fair  proportions,  or  else 
himself  pass  away  out  of  life.  So  the  operation 
goes  on,  science  interposes  its  aid,  and  when  the 
brave  youth  awakes  once  more,  it  is  to  the  con 
sciousness  of  his  great  loss. 

That  night,  and  the  next  day,  the  sands  of  life 
run  to  their  lowest.  Another  day,  and  Death  still 
seems  to  hover  over  his  prey;  if  hope  yet  lingers, 
that  is  barely  all.  The  mind  of  the  sufferer  wan 
ders, — the  roar  of  the  battle  still  fills  his  ears.  He 
is  again  leading  his  men.  The  word  is  given,  the 
horsemen  charge, — alas  !  there  is  no  shout,  only 
the  low  moan  of  prostrate  nature. 

The  third  day  a  strong  constitution  asserts  its 
power,  and  hope  revives.  He  is  now  out  of  danger, 
yet  not  fully  so.  The  next  day  brings  better  news ; 
the  young  soldier  is  more  himself.  But,  oh  !  how 
wasted  and  unlike  the  former  self,  that  felt  equal  to 


178  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

meet  any  ill  of  life !  He  is  cautiously  apprised  of  the 
order  making  him  a  colonel.  It  must  have  sounded 
like  the  trumpet-call  to  action.  New  hopes  break 
in  upon  his  future  vision,  and  he  seems  to  feel  as 
if  he  should  soon  be  ready  for  the  field  again.  A 
magistrate  is  summoned,  and  then,  almost  recalled 
from  the  grave,  he  raises  his  true  right  hand  to 
heaven  in  pledge  of  renewed  fealty  to  his  country 
and  her  cause, — "So  help  me  God!  Amen!'  That 
solemn  oath  has  been  registered,  and  in  a  few  short 
months  the  noble  heart  will  be  called  on  to  answer 
for  its  faithful  keeping.  There  were  fears  that  the 
feeble  frame  might  be  exhausted  under  such  ex 
citement,  but  it  may  have  been  the  stay  that  bore 
him  safely  through  the  further  trial. 

The  Sabbath  arrives,  and  with  it  the  brother  who, 
wasted  by  the  malaria  and  summer  sun  of  the  Mis 
sissippi  Valley,  has  had  just  sufficient  strength 
to  crawl  homeward  for  care  and  cure  under  his 
father's  roof.  Both  are  but  wrecks  of  the  active, 
care-free  lads  who  went  out  from  their  home  and 
offered  their  mite  to  the  great  cause.  One  is  wasted 
by  disease,  the  other  by  wounds ;  but  they  have 
been  repaid  by  looking  upon  grand  events.  One 
has  just  seen  the  great  valley  of  the  Mississippi 
unlocked  by  the  capture  of  Vicksburg  and  of  a 
rebel  army,  and  the  other  has  seen  the  greatest 
host  of  the  insurrection  recoil,  with  terrible  loss, 
before  the  Union  army  at  Gettysburg.  Both  had 


WOUNDED  AND  AT  HOME. 


179 


their  parts  in  these  important  events, — not  great, 
perhaps  hardly  noticeable,  for  they  were  but  atoms 
in  the  mighty  mass ;  but  they  gave  all  they  had  to 
give,  and  with  cheerfulness.  One  had  served  on 
the  seaboard,  as  far  round  as  the  mouths  of  the  Mis 
sissippi  ;  then,  being  transferred  to  the  squadron 
moving  with  Grant,  he  participated  in  its  action, 
and  at  last  found  place  behind  a  naval  battery  of 
his  father's  nine-inch  guns,  which  did  its  share 
on  the  rebel  batteries.  The  other  had  witnessed 
great  battles  at  Fredericksburg,  and  Chancellors- 
ville,  and  Gettysburg, — alternate  defeat  and  victory ; 
had  charged  at  Beverley  Ford,  and  flashed  into 
Fredericksburg,  and  brought  out  captive  rebels  to 
attest  the  deed ;  had  harried  the  rebel  retreat  from 
Gettysburg,  and,  during  a  desperate  charge  into  a 
stronghold,  had  been  wounded  in  its  very  streets. 

In  the  retrospect  there  was  nothing  to  regret. 
So  the  communion  of  the  brothers,  though  sad,  has 
its  consolation ;  and  the  quiet  of  the  day  lends  its 
influence  to  soothe  the  hours  of  sickness. 

The  young  colonel  is  not  unmindful  of  the  higher 
Power  which  has  carried  him  safely  through  so 
many  perils,  and  has  recalled  him  to  life.  He  desires 
to  see  the  pastor  to  whose  eloquent  and  earnest 
teachings  he  owes  so  much.  The  solemn  inter 
view  is  thus  mentioned  by  Dr.  Sunderland  himself:* 

*  Sermon  in  Memory  of  Colonel  Ulric  Dahlgren,  delivered  in  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church,  Washington,  April  24,  1864,  p.  25. 


I  So  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

"  Alive,  as  never  before,  to  the  gentle  memories 
and  cherished  tokens  of  other  days,  he  called  back 
from  the  sea  of  reminiscence  every  floating  waif, 
and  held  communion  with  familiar  forms  and 
visions,  that  came  before  him  in  his  prostration, 
and  silently  ministered  a  solace  and  a  strength  like 
the  descending  dew.  Who  can  tell  what  angels  of 
mercy,  in  mingled  pity  and  admiration,  then  hov 
ered  around  his  bed,  or  if  the  glorified  spirit  of  his 
departed  mother  were  not  present,  watching  over 
the  son  of  her  affection,  and  kindling  afresh  in  him 
the  flame  of  the  early  devotion  ?  Certain  it  is,  that 
he  alone,  of  all  who  came  and  went  in  that  cham 
ber,  displayed  the  calmness  of  a  great  serenity, 
himself  unmoved,  save  when  some  finger  pointed 
to  the  cause  of  the  afflicted  country,  and  then  he 
roused  into  a  startling  energy.  But  otherwise 
he  lay  quietly  in  his  consuming  weakness,  fre 
quently  seeking  to  lull  the  bodily  pain  he  felt  in 
the  sound  of  sacred  songs,  hymning  to  himself  the 
strains  of  younger  days,  that  had  often  borne  up 
his  mind  to  heaven  in  the  worship  of  the  family. 
Low  upon  his  back,  sometimes  agonized,  and  al 
ways  helpless,  he  looked,  hour  by  hour,  steadily 
upon  death,  his  nature  rapidly  ripening  in  a  full 
measure  of  resignation  to  the  will  of  Heaven,  and 
gathering  an  unshaken  confidence  in  the  mercy  of 
the  Redeemer.  Nobler  and  better  thoughts  filled 
him  with  composure,  and  all  the  tenderness  of  his 


WOUNDED  AND  AT  HOME.  181 

being  came  gushing  forth  again,  like  the  fragrance 
of  mangled  flowers.  He  now  turned  with  strong 
desire  and  unaffected  satisfaction  to  the  volume  of 
inspiration  as  to  a  high  tower  of  refuge.  On  its 
great  and  loving  promise  he  reposed  his  aching 
heart.  The  fourteenth  chapter  of  John  became 
especially  as  a  pillow  to  his  weary  mind.  In  its 
assurance  he  cast  the  whole  substance  of  his  destiny 
on  the  fatherhood  of  God,  and  daily  grew  purer 
and  greater  in  the  new-found  fraternity  of  Jesus,  on 
whose  propitiation  alone  he  began  to  take  reliance 
for  the  certainty  of  his  present  and  final  salvation. 
"So,  when  the  Sabbath  came  round,  and  through 
open  windows  looking  towards  the  church  he  could 
hear  the  lofty  melodies  of  the  sanctuary  floating  out 
upon  the  stillness  of  the  consecrated  air,  he  would 
often  pause  and  call  the  family  to  listen,  and  there, 
hushed  into  rapt  attention,  he  caught  again  the 
old  refrains  of  Zion,  so  long  resounding  from  her 
glorious  hills,  and  on  those  snatches  and  broken 
notes  that  drifted  to  his  ear  in  fragments,  his  ex 
ulting  spirit  rose  aloft  towards  the  realms  of  the 
blessed  and  immortal !  On  one  of  these  Sabbath 
days  he  sent  for  me,  and  then,  for  the  first  time,  I 
looked  upon  the  wounded  soldier.  Oh,  how  beau 
tiful  and  brave  and  grand  he  seemed,  as  in  his 
waste  and  woe-worn  plight  of  fleshly  torture  at 
length  I  beheld  him  stretched  out,  and  saw  the 
signals  of  that  fearful  maiming!  In  spite  of  all,  my 

16 


1 82  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

tears  ran  down  as  he  lifted  up  to  my  salutation  one 
sweet  smile  of  greeting  from  that  couch  of  physical 
agony.  That  moment  is  one  of  the  living  junctures 
of  duration  that  will  never  perish  till  reason  shall 
be  dethroned,  for  I  felt  myself  in  the  presence  of 
one  far  higher  and  holier  than  myself,  on  whom 
the  mystic  unction  of  God  had  passed,  and  made 
him  a  prince  and  a  king  forever. 

"  Nor  can  we  doubt  that  there,  in  the  hour  of 
his  deepest  trouble,  he  entered  into  the  spiritual 
rest  of  Christ's  chosen  people ;  and  there,  in  the 
gloom  of  his  sorest  darkness,  the  covenant  of  his 
eternal  salvation  was  accomplished." 

The  month  of  July  wears  on,  hot  and  oppressive, 
— therefore  bears  severely  on  the  enfeebled  patient; 
but  the  young  and  hitherto  untouched  resources 
of  health  are  daily  renovating  the  wasted  form, 
and  by  the  1st  of  August  his  skillful  medical  at 
tendants  pronounce  him  out  of  danger.  He  has 
triumphed  again.  In  good  season,  too,  comes  a 
letter  to  him  from  his  father,  who  has  heard  of  the 
wound,  and  speaks  comfort  to  his  beloved  son, — 
telling  him  to  be  of  good  cheer.  And  soon  after 
arrives,  from  the  South  Atlantic  Squadron,  that 
gallant  officer,  Lieutenant  Preston,  who  has  been 
serving  as  flag-lieutenant  to  the  admiral,  and  can 
therefore  give  full  and  exact  account  of  the  pro 
ceedings  there.  Such  an  interview  must  have  been 
full  of  interest, — two  young  Americans,  each  of 


WOUNDED  AND  AT  HOME.  183 

whom  was  to  close  a  glorious  career  in  the  cause 
to  which  both  were  so  devoted. 

Every  day  adds  to  the  returning  strength,  and 
the  congratulations  of  friends  are  tendered  contin 
ually.  By  the  1 3th  of  August  it  is  deemed  possi 
ble  to  travel,  and,  to  avoid  the  oppressive  heat, 
Colonel  Dahlgren  is  permitted  to  try  the  journey 
to  Newport.  Some  of  his  old  sailor  comrades 
bear  him  on  a  litter  to  the  cars,  and  on  the  I5th  he 
reaches  the  home  of  his  uncle,  Mr.  S.  Abbott 
Lawrence.  Thus  ends  a  month  of  severe  trial. 
The  climate  was  favorable  to  returning  health, 
but  a  new  trial  awaits  him  here.  Tears  that  his 
own  afflictions  could  not  excite  were  to  flow  freely 
over  the  sudden  death  of  his  beloved  uncle,  whose 
guest  he  now  was.  The  death-blow  was  instant, 
and  in  a  few  hours  the  earthly  career  of  one  of 
the  truest  of  loyal  citizens  was  closed.  No  one 
had  given  more  freely,  in  word  and  influence  and 
means,  to  the  Union  cause  than  Mr.  S.  Abbott 
Lawrence. 

Having  rendered  the  last  tribute  to  this  excel 
lent  relative,  Colonel  Dahlgren  turned  homeward 
once  more,  where  he  arrived  on  the  2ist  Septem 
ber,  after  passing  a  week  with  his  old  friends  in 
Philadelphia.  Two  days  afterwards,  his  younger 
brother,  Paul,  returned  home  from  his  first  cruise 
as  a  midshipman  in  the  frigate  Macedonian.  He 
had  not  heard  of  the  wound  received  by  his  brother, 


ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 


and  was  naturally  much  shocked   to  behold  the 
great  change  which  it  had  occasioned. 

During  October,  Colonel  Dahlgren  spent  a  week 
with  some  of  his  friends  in  Harrisburg,  and  then 
returned  to  Washington, 


CHAPTER    X. 

OFF  CHARLESTON. 

HIS  wound  was  not  yet  healed,  nor  his  strength 
sufficiently  restored  for  service.  Colonel 
Dahlgren,  therefore,  concluded  to  visit  his  father, 
who  was  then  in  command  of  the  South  Atlantic 
Blockading  Squadron.  He  left  home  on  Thursday, 
19th  of  November,  1863,  and  took  passage  in  the 
steamer  that  carried  supplies  for  the  squadron, 
which  departed  from  Philadelphia  on  Saturday  the 
2 1st,  and,  after  a  passage  of  sixty-five  hours,  ap 
peared  off  Charleston  bar  about  eight  o'clock  on 
the  morning  of  the  24th. 

His  observant  eye  quickly  took  in  the  prominent 
features  of  the  scene.  Outside  lay  the  war  steamers 
that  constituted  the  first  line  of  blockade, — the 
Wabash  looming  up  grandly  among  them  ;  a  noble 
screw-frigate  of  several  thousand  tons,  which  had 
been  used  by  Admiral  Dupont  as  his  flagship,  and 
enacted  the  chief  part  in  the  reduction  of  Port 
Royal  (November,  1861),  two  years  previously, 
but,  being  of  too  great  draft,  could  not  cross  the 
1 6*  (185) 


1 86  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

Charleston  bar,  and  therefore  no  longer  carried  the 
flag. 

Passing  this  seaward  guard,  the  Massachusetts 
crossed  the  bar,  and  mingled  with  the  inshore 
squadron,  composed  of  iron-clads,  far  less  imposing 
in  appearance  but  much  more  formidable  in  action 
than  the  outer  squadron.  Among  them  fluttered 
the  admiral's  flag,  hoisted  on  the  Philadelphia,  a 
plain  river  steamer,  whose  sole  merit  consisted  in 
the  capacity  to  accommodate  the  large  staff  of 
officers  that  was  required  by  a  command  of  seventy 
vessels. 

The  general  appearance  of  the  land  was  unin 
viting,  presenting  long,  low  strips  of  sand, — beach 
and  hillock,  partially  covered  by  a  growth  of  small 
pine,  though  the  nearest  shore  was  denuded  even 
of  this.  This  deficiency,  however,  was  more  than 
compensated  by  the  presence  of  objects  of  greater 
interest.  Formidable  earth-works  crowned  the 
rising  ground  :  prominent  among  them  was  Wag 
ner;  and  the  tents  of  our  soldiers  dotted  the 
intervening  space.  Beyond  was  to  be  seen  Fort 
Johnson,  and  to  the  right  of  it  appeared  the  spires 
and  dwellings  of  Charleston,  some  four  miles  dis 
tant.  Off  the  northern  point  of  Morris  Island  a 
mass  of  ruins  rose  from  the  water.  This  was  Sumter, 
quite  as  capable  as  ever  of  harboring  its  garrison 
of  rebels.  Its  flag-staff  displayed  the  rebel  banner, 
within  fair  gunshot  of  the  Union  flag  on  Cummings's 


OFF  CHARLESTON. 


Point.  Right  across  from  Sumter,  and  seemingly 
barring  farther  progress  in  that  direction,  was  Sulli 
van's  Island,  lined  for  a  mile  and  a  half  with  for 
midable  batteries,  central  amid  which  Moultrie  was 
distinguishable.  No  grand  or  striking  features, 
natural  or  artificial,  met  the  eye,  but  there  was 
significance  in  every  sand  hillock  or  graded  outline, 
for  each  marked  the  site  of  a  battery  or  that  of 
protracted  conflict.  And  beyond  all  was  the  City 
by  the  sea,  which  had  been  the  very  focus  of  the 
rebellion,  and  still  abated  nothing  of  its  hostility  to 
the  Union. 

The  Massachusetts  drops  anchor  at  convenient 
distance,  and  the  commanding  officer's  gig  repairs 
to  the  flagship.  Colonel  Dahlgren  is  seated  therein. 
The  boat  reaches  the  side,  and,  tossed  by  the  top 
pling  waves,  offers  but  a  precarious  footing  for  the 
crippled  soldier.  As  he  rises,  kindly  hands  are 
instinctively  extended  to  steady  him,  but  he  seizes 
the  man-ropes  with  a  firm  grasp,  and  lifts  himself 
into  the  low^  gangway. 

His  father  and  elder  brother  are  there  to  receive 
him.  It  is  six  months  since  the  father  and  son  had 
parted;  but  how  that  brief  space  has  been  crowded 
with  events  !  Gettysburg,  Vicksburg,  Morris  Island, 
tell  of  the  service  of  each.  After  a  brief  review 
of  the  most  interesting  incidents  in  family  matters, 
the  barge  is  manned  and  pulled  up  to  the  advance, 
the  father  carefully  pointing  out  to  his  son  the 


1 88  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

objects  most  noteworthy.  At  last  they  reach  the 
monitor  (the  Weehawken)  whose  tour  of  duty  it 
was,  that  day,  to  lie  nearest  the  rebel  batteries. 
From  this  position  is  to  be  had  a  clear  view  of  the 
city  and  the  inner  harbor;  to  the  right,  and  nearest, 
are  the  rebel  works  on  Sullivan's  Island ;  directly 
in  front,  the  city,  Castle  Pinckney,  and  Fort  Ripley ; 
to  the  left,  grim  Sumter ;  and  a  little  beyond,  Fort 
Johnson,  marked  by  the  huge  mound  of  its  bomb 
proof.  The  landscape  is  not  without  the  tokens  of 
war,  for  the  flash  and  booming  of  cannon  come 
from  our  battery  on  Cummings's  Point,  at  measured 
intervals,  and  the  columns  of  dust  that  rise  from 
Sumter  disclose  the  object  of  fire,  and  the  result. 

The  Weehawken  itself  is  an  object  of  no  ordi 
nary  interest,  having  been  engaged  with  the  rebel 
batteries  thirteen  times  in  the  recent  operations 
here,  on  four  of  which  occasions  she  bore  the  ad 
miral's  flag,  and  once  grounded  under  the  heavy 
fire  of  Sullivan's  Island,  where,  being  left  partially 
bare  by  the  falling  tide,  she  might  have  been  fatally 
damaged  had  not  the  admiral  ordered  all  the  other 
iron-clads  present  to  engage  the  batteries,  and  thus 
give  their  guns  other  work. 

Captain  Colhoun,  who  had  so  handsomely  carried 
the  Weehawken  through  all  this  service,  now  grat 
ified  the  natural  curiosity  of  the  young  soldier  by 
pointing  out  some  of  the  effects  of  the  hard  batter 
ing  it  had  undergone.  The  turret  was  marked  by 


OFF  CHARLESTON.  189 

the  deep  dints  of  the  rebel  shot,  but  the  side  armor, 
not  equally  enduring,  was  started  off  several  inches 
in  some  places.  Some  two  weeks  later  this  veteran 
iron-clad  is  fated  to  founder,  and  find  a  resting-place 
in  the  slimy  ooze  of  this  unfriendly  anchorage, 
where  now  she  rides  so  gallantly  and  defiantly, 
Ulric's  note-book  gives  his  first  ideas  of  these 
strange  crafts  very  tersely : — "The  impression  made 
by  first  seeing  a  monitor  is  that  of  a  vessel  nearly 
submerged,  the  water  washing  over  the  deck  and 
looking  as  uncomfortable  as  one  can  imagine. 
The  men  show  their  service.  The  monitors  have 
been  well  battered,  and  look  leaky  from  some  tre 
mendous  hits  about  the  water-line." 

After  a  full  view  of  the  scene,  the  barge  returns 
to  the  flagship,  and  the  traveler  finds  himself  snugly 
established  in  his  father's  spacious  cabin  on  board 
the  Philadelphia. 

A  few  days  later  he  accompanies  the  admiral  to 
a  review  of  the  marine  battalion  of  the  fleet,  which 
is  about  to  return  home.  This  force  had  been 
landed  and  encamped  at  a  convenient  spot  on  Folly 
Island,  near  Stono,  in  order  to  train  the  men  more 
thoroughly  together,  for  landing  when  required. 
Ulric,  resting  on  his  crutches,  watched  with  atten 
tion  the  evolutions,  which  were  performed  admira 
bly,  from  the  most  deliberate  time  to  a  double-quick, 
which,  in  the  heavy  sand,  was  less  amusing  than 
might  be  supposed.  This  work  was  followed  by 


190  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

a  neat  collation  in  proper  service  style,  attended  by 
all  the  officers  present,  and  a  pleasant  half-hour 
was  thus  passed,  in  the  course  of  which  Ulric  toasted 
his  former  commander,  General  Hooker. 

The  following  week  was  variously  employed. 
On  one  day  he  makes  his  first  essay  in  the  saddle 
since  he  was  lifted  from  it,  wounded,  at  Hagers- 
town.  As  he  moved  slowly  on  his  crutches  to  the 
side  of  the  horse,  and  was  then  sustained  with  care 
until  his  foot  was  in  the  stirrup,  it  seemed  hardly 
possible  that  the  experiment  could  succeed  ;  but 
there  the  doubt  ceased.  He  rose  with  ease  to  his 
place,  and  sat  as  assuredly  as  if  he  lacked  no  limb, 
and  quickly  gathering  up  the  reins,  put  his  horse  to  a 
canter  and  rode  out  of  sight.  Arriving  at  Fort  Wag 
ner,  some  three  miles  distant,  he  saw  as  much  of  it 
as  possible  without  dismounting ;  but  found  the  ap 
proaches  that  had  been  made  by  our  troops  nearly 
obliterated  by  sand  and  wind.  From  this  fort  he 
had  a  better  view  of  the  city  and  Fort  Johnson. 

The  next  day,  the  vessels  were  dressed  gayly  in 
flags,  and  a  salute  was  fired  from  the  Ironsides,  in 
compliment  to  Grant's  victory  at  Missionary  Ridge. 
On  the  2d  December,  the  flagship  left  the  inlet  and 
anchored  in  the  Roads.  The  colonel  says  he  spent 
the  day  watching  the  movements.  Our  battery,  at 
the  north  end  of  Morris  Island,  was  firing  upon 
Sumter,  and  was  answered  from  Johnson.  Next 
day  he  went  in  the  barge  to  look  at  the  wreck  of 


OFF  CHARLESTON.  igi 

the  Keokuk,  a  lightly-armored  vessel,  which  was 
so  severely  handled  in  Dupont's  attack  on  Sumter 
that  she  sank  near  the  entrance  of  the  inlet.  At 
this  time  the  tops  of  her  casemates  were  barely 
visible. 

On  Saturday  (5th  December),  being  desirous  of 
seeing  Port  Royal,  his  father  took  him  on  board 
the  Sonoma,  a  double-ender,  which  was  going 
thither ;  she  steamed  out  late  in  the  day,  and, 
during  the  night,  was  helped  along  by  a  stiff  north 
easter.  His  note-book  says,  "  Heavy  sea  and  blow 
ing  hard.  Schooner  in  tow ;  had  to  cast  her  off 
early  next  morning,  on  account  of  the  weather. 
Had  a  very  pleasant  trip." 

Port  Royal  is  probably  the  finest  harbor  on  our 
Southern  coast.  Like  all  the  rest  of  them,  its  en 
trance  is  bordered  by  ranges  of  shoals,  extending 
several  miles  seaward  ;  but  there  are  three  chan 
nels  among  these  shoals,  which  are  well  marked, 
and  permit  vessels  of  twenty-one  to  twenty-three 
feet  to  cross  at  low  water ;  so  that  those  of  the 
largest  class  have  no  difficulty  at  any  time  in  enter 
ing.  The  shore-line  is  low  and  wooded,  with  no 
feature  distinguishable  by  the  ordinary  observer. 

The  Sonoma  passed  in  soon  after  daylight,  and 
anchored  near  the  Vermont,  among  the  numerous 
vessels  of  the  squadron  that  clustered  about  the 
naval  depot  on  the  northern  shore,  either  for  repair 
or  supplies.  Colonel  Ulric  soon  afterwards  made 


192 


ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 


his  way  to  the  Vermont,  where  he  found  the  senior 
officer,  Captain  Reynolds,  an  old  shipmate  of  his 
father's,  who  had  had  the  misfortune  to  lose  his 
brother,  General  Reynolds,  at  Gettysburg.  The 
next  day  he  crossed  to  Hilton  Head,  the  military 
depot  on  the  southern  shore  of  the  bay,  where  he 
dined  with  a  friend,  and  started  for  Beaufort,  which 
he  reached  in  the  evening.  The  following  day  he 
drove  about  the  country,  and  in  the  afternoon  rode 
on  horseback  with  some  friends.  Among  other 
places  he  visited  the  Smith  plantation,  where  the 
party  looked  at,  and  speculated  on,  the  remains  of 
the  old  fort,  which,  some  three  hundred  years  since, 
served  to  protect  the  first  European  comers.  Near 
it,  too,  might  be  seen  an  unfinished  wharf,  as  left 
by  our  own  engineers,  and  thus  met  the  labors  of 
different  centuries.  More  interesting  than  either 
was  the  old  plantation-house,  now  occupied  by 
some  clever  and  most  estimable  Northern  women, 
who,  regardless  of  all  difficulties,  had  left  their 
homes  to  carry  instruction  to  the  negro.  All  praise 
to  their  noble  sympathies!  Tuesday  Colonel  Dahl- 
gren  seems  to  have  spent  with  friends  in  Beaufort, 
where  some  of  the  black  regiments  and  their  good 
marching  attracted  his  notice.  He  also  visited 
Captain  Badger,  then  there  under  hospital  treat 
ment,  who  had  been  his  father's  fleet-captain,  and 
was  badly  wounded  in  an  attack  by  the  iron-clads 
on  the  Sullivan  Island  batteries  (September  1st). 


OFF  CHARLESTON.  193 

He  was  with  the  admiral,  on  board  the  Weehawken, 
and  was  struck  by  an  iron  splinter,  driven  from  the 
turret  by  a  heavy  shot,  which  fractured  his  thigh. 
That  very  evening  the  news  reached  Beaufort  of 
the  loss  of  the  Weehawken,  which  foundered  in  a 
gale,  off  Charleston,  on  the  6th. 

The  next  day,  Colonel  Dahlgren  returned  to 
Port  Royal,  and,  after  visiting  the  Vermont,  took  a 
ride  on  shore  with  several  naval  officers,  and  saw 
some  of  his  military  friends. 

Having  thus  acquired  a  good  idea  of  Port  Royal 
and  its  vicinity,  by  personal  observation,  on  Thurs 
day  morning  early  (loth  December)  the  colonel 
embarked  on  board  the  Paul  Jones  (a  double-ender 
gunboat),  which  was  bound  for  Charleston.  To 
wards  evening  it  came  on  to  blow  freshly  from  the 
northeast,  bringing  the  usual  heavy  sea,  which 
necessarily  reduced  the  speed  of  the  steamer,  so 
that  it  was  dark  when  it  reached  the  Wabash,  off 
the  bar,  and  anchored  outside. 

The  next  morning  rose  upon  a  genuine  north 
easter  ;  and  none  but  those  who  have  actually 
undergone  such  an  affliction  can  fully  appreciate 
the  discomforts  of  riding  out  a  gale,  at  anchor, 
either  inside  or  outside  of  Charleston  bar.  The 
Paul  Jones  crossed  it  early,  before  the  sea  had  risen 
on  the  bar,  and  Ulric  got  back  to  the  flagship  as 
soon  as  possible.  The  note-book  gives  his  own 
impressions  in  a  few  words,  thus : 


194  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

"Friday,  December  n. — Blew  hard  during  the 
night ;  heavy  sea  on  ;  foggy.  Went  on  board  the 
Philadelphia ;  rough  getting  from  one  steamer  to 
another.  Thought  the  small  boat  would  be 
swamped.  Looked  'blue'  in  the  Philadelphia; 
.rudder  broken,  and  she  would  go  to  pieces  if  the 
gale  continued.  Weehawken  a  great  loss ;  being 
investigated.  Large  fire  in  Sumter.  Very  heavy 
sea,  etc." 

This  state  of  things  is  thus  explained :  The 
Philadelphia  was  nothing  more  than  an  ordinary 
river  steamboat,  and  used  to  ply  on  the  mail  line 
between  Washington  and  Acquia.  When  the  re 
bellion  began  to  show  head,  in  April,  1861,  this 
boat,  with  others  of  like  description,  had  been  seized 
by  General  Scott,  and  transferred  to  the  navy. 
Captain  Dahlgren,  then  commanding  the  Navy 
Yard,  armed  and  equipped  them  all,  in  order  to 
keep  open  the  communication  by  the  Potomac, 
none  other  remaining  after  the  Baltimore  mob  had 
cut  off  that  by  railroad.  The  Philadelphia  was,  in 
many  respects,  well  suited  for  the  flagship  of  the 
South  Atlantic ;  indeed,  no  other  vessel  in  the  squad 
ron  had  proper  accommodation  for  the  large  staff 
which  such  a  command  required.  But  in  a  road 
stead  so  exposed  as  is  that  of  Charleston,  and  where 
an  ugly  cross  sea  so  generally  prevails,  the  vessel 
suffered  severely,  and  was  much  racked  in  heavy 
weather  by  the  sea  striking  under  her  wide  and  low 


OFF  CHARLESTON.  195 

sruards.     On   the  6th  of  December,  the  admiral 

o 

lay  within  a  few  hundred  yards  of  the  Weehawken, 
the  most  advanced  of  the  vessels,  except  the  picket. 
The  Philadelphia  was  not  only  much  strained  by 
the  heavy  sea,  but  her  rudder  was  disabled,  and  it 
was  reported  afterwards  that  the  vessel  had  been 
held  to  the  mooring-buoy  by  lashing  the  stream- 
cable  with  a  few  parts  of  rope  ;  so,  if  that  had  given 
way,  the  steam  would  not  have  kept  the  Philadel 
phia  from  going  ashore,  as  it  was  impossible  to 
steer.  It  was  to  this  state  of  things  that  the  re 
marks  of  Colonel  Dahlgren  referred,  and  it  was 
with  no  pleasant  anticipations  that  the  admiral  saw 
his  son  return  just  at  that  time,  as  his  crippled 
condition  and  unhealed  wound  would,  render  the 
steamer  very  uncomfortable  to  him.  On  the  day 
previous,  an  effort  had  been  made  to  run  the  Phila 
delphia  into  the  inlet,  so  as  to  repair  the  rudder,  but 
there  was  not  water  enough  on  its  bar. 

On  the  1 2th,  the  vessel  labored  so  much  in  the 
sea  that  another  attempt  was  made  to  enter  the 
inlet,  but  the  sea  broke  on  its  bar.  On  renewing 
the  effort  a  few  days  afterwards,  the  temporary  fix 
tures  of  the  rudder  gave  way,  right  off  the  bar,  and 
a  part  of  the  port  wheel-house  was  carried  away. 
It  was  now  evident  that  the  Philadelphia  could  not 
be  got  into  the  inlet  by  its  proper  entrance,  so  a 
gunboat  was  ordered  to  tow  her  down  to  Stono. 
Just  as  she  was  on  the  point  of  leaving  the  road- 


196  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

stead,  General  Gillmore  came  on  board,  and,  break 
fast  being  served,  he  sat  down  with  the  colonel  and 
his  father.  The  conversation  turned  on  operations, 
and  the  general  made  known  a  project  for  Savan 
nah,  to  which  the  admiral  readily  assented.  Views 
on  other  subjects  were  expressed,  which  it  is  not 
necessary  to  mention  here.  Meanwhile,  the  voyage 
was  proceeding.  By  noon,  the  Philadelphia  was  off 
Stono,  and  entered ;  once  in  these  smooth  waters, 
the  rudder  was  refitted  temporarily,  and  the  vessel 
steamed  up  Folly  River,  until  she  reached  the  nar 
row  passages  by  which  a  water-communication  is 
established  with  the  inlet, — a  great  convenience, 
had  it  not  been  more  or  less  exposed,  at  some 
points,  to  the  fire  of  the  rebel  batteries.  The 
streamlet  now  became  so  narrow  and  so  crooked 
that  hawsers  were  indispensable  for  the  remaining 
distance,  to  cant  the  vessel's  head  at  the  numerous 
sharp  bends,  the  guards  often  touching  the  morass 
on  both  sides.  It  was  midnight  when  the  Phila 
delphia  emerged  from  this  curious  navigation  and 
entered  the  inlet. 

The  young  soldier  was,  as  usual,  a  constant  and 
attentive  observer  of  all  that  was  passing,  and  was 
regularly  domiciled  with  his  brother  in  one  of  the 
large  apartments  attached  to  the  cabin.  Some 
times  he  rode  up  the  island  on  horseback,  noticing 
whatever  was  of  interest,  as  the  firing  from  the 
batteries,  the  appearance  of  the  city,  the  new  iron- 


OFF  CHARLESTON. 


197 


clads  building  there,  the  guard-boats,  etc.  And  in 
this  way  Christmas  wears  around;  a  season  so 
crowded,  when  at  home,  with  the  innocent  merri 
ment  of  boys  and  girls,  and  so  suggestive  of  the 
past,  as  we  grow  away  from  the  active  participation 
and  become  mere  lookers-on.  It  is,  in  truth,  a 
home  festival  only, — without  the  family  circle  it 
cannot  be  enjoyed  with  real  zest.  The  father  and 
son  had  spent  many  together;  noiv  this  was  their 
last,  though  neither  felt  that  such  was  to  be,  but 
enjoyed  the  dinner-hour  in  quiet  and  pleasant  con 
versation. 

The  day  was  not  entirely  barren  of  incident,  for 
the  rebels,  perhaps  to  contribute  to  the  pleasures  of 
the  day,  opened  very  suddenly  from  some  concealed 
batteries  upon  the  gunboat  Marblehead,  then  lying 
in  the  Stono  River  in  an  exposed  position,  near  the 
row  of  piles  that  had  been  driven  across  the  stream 
to  obstruct  our  ascent.  Captain  Meade  promptly 
dropped  his  vessel  to  a  point  where  his  guns  would 
bear  to  most  advantage,  and  returned  the  fire  with 
spirit.  The  din  soon  came  to  that  old  veteran,  the 
Pawnee,  and  Captain  Balch  steamed  as  soon  as 
possible  to  the  spot,  so  as  to  take  his  part  in  the 
fray.  Selecting  a  position  in  the  Kiawah,  which 
would  rake  the  rebel  batteries,  he  let  loose  his 
broadside  of  nine-inch  guns  with  such  effect  that 
the  rebels  fled  precipitately,  leaving  their  heavy 
artillery  behind.  The  next  day  a  force  was  landed 
17* 


198  ULRIC  DAHLGREN: 

which  took  possession  of  these  guns  :  two  of  them 
were  fine  siege  eight-inch  howitzers.  One  was 
assigned  to  the  Marblehead,  and  the  other  to  the 
Pawnee,  as  trophies. 

On  the  29th  December,  an  expedition  started 
for  Murrill's  Inlet,  a  small  arm  of  the  sea  near  the 
northern  extremity  of  South  Carolina,  only  admit 
ting  small  coasting-craft  of  the  lightest  draft  at  high 
water.  A  little  sailing-vessel  was  usually  stationed 
here  to  prevent  the  egress  of  turpentine  and  other 
produce.  By  some  indiscretion,  one  of  our  boat's 
crews  had  been  captured  on  landing,  and  a  larger 
vessel  was  therefore  sent,  with  a  view  of  retrieving 
the  mistake  when  a  proper  opportunity  should 
offer ;  but,  instead  of  profiting  by  experience,  an 
other  landing-party  was  surprised,  while  attempt 
ing  to  capture  a  small  vessel  in  the  inlet,  and  lost 
twelve  men  with  three  officers.  The  admiral  de 
termined,  therefore,  to  abate  the  nuisance,  and  the 
satisfaction  of  the  rebels  at  this  double  mishap,  by 
sending  a  suitable  force  to  do  the  work.  Two 
gunboats  (Nipsic  and  Sanford),  with  two  very  light- 
draft  steamers,  and  two  sailing-vessels,  were  directed 
to  prepare  for  the  expedition ;  four  howitzers  and 
one  hundred  marines  were  added,  the  whole  under 
Captain  Joseph  Green. 

As  soon  as  Colonel  Dahlgren  perceived  that  the 
measure  was  contemplated,  he  became  desirous  to 
join  it,  and  to  command  the  landing  force.  This 


OFF  CHARLESTON. 


I99 


was  not  possible,  however,  as  he  was  an  army 
officer,  and,  besides,  his  crippled  condition  would 
interfere  with  the  personal  exertion  required  to 
land  on  an  open  sea-beach;  but,  to  quiet  his  anx 
iety,  his  father  permitted  him  to,  embark  as  a  vol 
unteer.  So,  on  the  afternoon- of  the  29th,  he  re 
paired  to  the  Nipsic,  and  late  in  the  day  the  little 
squadron  steamed  off  in  a  northerly  direction. 

His  own  account  of  the  operation  is  thus  briefly 
recorded : 

"  Wednesday ',  December  30. — Beautiful  weather, 
wind  northwestward.  Arrived  in  the  afternoon  off 
Murrill's  Inlet.  Ethan  Allen  and  Maugham  came 
up.  Wind  shifting  to  northeast.  Clouding  over. 
Good  fishing.  Preparations  for  landing  complete. 
Everybody  eager  to  take  part.  The  pilot,  Prince, 
quite  a  character.  Went  to  bed.  In  the  night 
heavy  sea  arose.  Ship  rolled  a  great  deal. 

"  Thursday,  December  31. — Rough  and  rainy, — 
wind  northeast.  Heavy  sea  during  last  night. 
Moved  off  Georgetown.  Wind  coming  to  south 
west.  During  the  gale,  last  night,  a  boat  got  adrift, 
and  the  tug  was  much  strained.  Guns,  etc.  taken 
out  of  boats.  Refugees  report  that  the  rebels  ex 
pected  us,  and  had  reinforcements  from  Savannah 
and  Georgetown  waiting  for  us. 

"Friday,  January  I,  1864. — High  wind  south 
west.  Sandford  started  home.  Nipsic  went  to 
Murrill's  Inlet, — opened  fire  on  the  schooner.  Four 


200  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

boats  landed  with  marines.  Very  pretty  as  the 
boats  shoved  off, — hard  pulling, — landed  success 
fully.  Schooner  in  flames, — very  black  smoke 
from  one  hundred  and  nineteen  barrels  of  turpen 
tine.  Two  hundred  cavalry  came  down, — a  happy 
New  Year  doubtless  to  them." 

Having  thus  accomplished  the  purpose,  the 
Nipsic  (Captain  Spotts)  returned  to  Charleston,  and 
Ulric  resumed  his  place  in  his  father's  cabin.  Here 
he  passed  part  of  the  time  in  reading,  or  in  observ 
ing  surrounding  objects  from  the  cabin  windows : 
sometimes  in  exercising  outside  in  the  open  air,  or 
in  spending  an  hour  with  the  officers  of  the  staff. 
If  the  weather  was  suitable,  a  ride  on  horseback 
varied  the  occupation  of  the  passing  hours,  or  a 
pull  in  the  fine,  roomy  barge,  which  the  stout  arms 
of  more  than  a  dozen  seamen  drove  swiftly  over 
the  toppling  seas.  The  subject  always  present  to 
him,  however,  was  the  pending  military  and  naval 
prospect,  of  which  there  was  no  closer  observer 
there.  His  eye  never  failed  to  notice  any  changes 
that  might  occur,  and,  notwithstanding  his  disa 
bility  and  as  yet  unconfirmed  health,  he  even  joined 
the  scouting-parties  that  went  up  at  night  to  recon- 
noiter  the  rebel  movements  at  the  front.  As  the 
Philadelphia  was  still  in  a  disabled  condition,  the 
admiral  generally  left  that  vessel  before  sundown, 
and  passed  the  night  in  one  of  the  gunboats,  among 
the  iron-clads,  that  were  anchored  well  up  the  roads 


OFF  CHARLESTON.  2OI 

on  blockade,  and  in  readiness  also^to  support  the 
picket-monitors  if  attacked.  Being  detained  later 
than  usual  by  business,  one  evening,  it  was  quite 
dark  before  he  got  over  the  inlet  bar,  and  pulled 
alongside  a  tug  in  order  to  steam  up  with  more 
facility.  It  was  a  stormy-looking  January  night, 
the  sea  was  rough,  and  a  light  rain  was  falling. 
Scrambling  over  the  side  of  the  little  steamer  as 
well  as  the  motion  permitted,  the  admiral  unex 
pectedly  encountered  his  son,  very  composedly 
steadying  himself  on  his  crutches  against  the  cabin 
bulkhead.  He  was  bound  up  to  the  front  with  the 
scouting  officer,  to  pass  part  of  that  inclement 
night  in  watching  the  enemy's  movements. 

On  the  1 2th,  he  attended  a  flag-raising  at  Fort 
Wagner,  when  the  Union  banner  was  displayed  from 
a  pole  of  very  commanding  height.  Speeches 
were  made,  etc.,  and  it  was  supposed  that  the  rebels 
would  join  in  celebrating  the  occasion  by  opening 
fire,  but  they  did  not. 

On  the  1 6th  of  January,  General  Gillmore  visited 
the  admiral,  and  Colonel  Dahlgren  notes  some  of 
the  conversation  that  passed,  which  happened  to  be 
of  more  than  usual  interest 

On  the  2Oth,  he  mentions  a  review  by  General 
Gordon,  of  the  troops  under  his  command,  and  re 
marks  their  good  appearance. 

And  now  the  hour  drew  near  when  father  and 


202  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

son  were  to  p^art  for  the  last  time.  Ulric's  wound 
was  healing  rapidly,  and  his  crippled  limb  becoming- 
firm  enough  to  bear  artificial  assistance,  which  was 
best  to  be  obtained  by  returning  North.  It  was 
therefore  decided  on,  with  the  understanding  that 
when  the  new  monitors  should  arrive  Colonel 
Dahlgren  would  return,  and  be  allowed  to  accom 
pany  the  fleet  into  the  harbor. 

The  supply-ship  had  come  in  -early  from  the 
southward,  and  anchored  off  the  inlet  for  more 
convenient  access  to  the  flagship.  About  four 
o'clock,  Ulric  Dahlgren  stood  in  the  gangway  of 
the  Philadelphia,  resting  on  his  crutches,  and  bade 
adieu  to  many  friends  who  had  met  there  for  that 
purpose.  In  his  hand  was  a  small  box,  containing 
a  valued  memorial  of  hard  service.  As  he  grasps 
the  man-rope  to  descend  into  the  unsteady  boat, 
many  kind  hands  are  stretched  forth  to  aid  the 
crippled  soldier.  The  oars  are  dropped  into  the 
water,  and,  as  the  barge  glides  away,  the  young 
officer  raises  his  cap  in  friendly  farewell  to  his  naval 
comrades. 

The  sun  of  the  short  day  is  rapidly  descending 
to  the  horizon,  the  tide  swells  full  on  the  bar,  and 
the  anchor  of  the  steamer  is  nearly  atrip.  On  the 
quarter-deck  the  admiral  is  exchanging  some  part 
ing  words  with  his  beloved  son,  little  thinking  that 
they  are  to  be  the  last  on  this  side  of  eternity,  and 
unheeding  the  impatience  of  the  captain,  who  is  most 


OFF  CHARLESTON. 


203 


anxious  that  he  shall  have  sufficient  daylight  and 
water  to  get  into  the  open  sea.  But  the  last  mo 
ment  together  has  been  spent.  Father  and  son 
exchange  the  farewell  greeting,  and  are  separated 
forever. 

As  the  barge  glides  away  from  the  departing 
steamer,  the  admiral  turns  and  waves  his  cap  to 
his  son  in  affectionate  adieu,  until  the  forms  of  both 
become  indistinct  in  the  distance. 

The  steamer  rapidly  crosses  the  bar,  and  is  soon 
on  the  broad  ocean. 

And  thus  concludes  another  of  the  few  chapters, 
in  the  life  of  Ulric  Dahlgren. 


CHAPTER    XL 

ATTEMPT  TO  RESCUE  THE  UNION  SOLDIERS  FROM  CAI 
TIVITY  AT  LIBBY  AND  BELLE  ISLE,  IN  RICHMOND. 

A  FTER  a  pleasant  run  of  fifty  hours,  the  steame 
-f~JL  reached  Fortress  Monroe  about  dark  of  Jar 
uary  24th  (Sunday). 

Many  lights  were  glittering  ashore,  and  on  boar 
the  fleet  of  vessels  at  anchor  in  the  roads.  Tli 
moon  was  rising  in  all  the  majesty  of  a  full  orl 
and  disclosed  the  dim  outlines  of  objects  on  Ian 
and  water.  Upon  this  mingled  scene  of  loveliues 
the  young  man  stood  gazing  and  rapt  in  conten 
plation,  until  the  anchor  was  dropped  and  tt: 
steamer  swung  round  to  the  tide  ;  then  he  hastene 
to  the  flagship  and  paid  his  respects  to  Admir; 
Lee.  During  the  night  the  voyage  was  resume' 
and  next  day  the  steamer  entered  the  Delawar 
arriving  at  the  Philadelphia  Navy  Yard  about  mi< 
night. 

On  Tuesday  (26th  June,  1864)  Colonel  Dahlgre 
took  the  train  for  Washington,  and  that  evenin 
he  reached  home  once  more. 

During  the  three  weeks  that  followed,  he  occi 
(204) 


ATTEMPT  TO   RESCUE  PRISONERS. 


205 


pied  himself  in  returning  the  calls  and  acknowl 
edging  the  attentions  of  friends  who  had  been  so 
kind  while  he  was  the  inmate  of  a  sick-chamber; 
he  also  paid  his  respects  to  the  principal  officers  of 
the  government, — and  wherever  he  went  was  re 
ceived  with  the  warmest  welcome.  He  was  con 
stantly  the  object  of  flattering  notice,  and  the 
impression  he  made  on  all  who  met  him  was  that 
of  an  unobtrusive  and  modest  young  man,  whose 
thoughts  were  earnestly  and  enthusiastically  bent 
on  the  future  of  his  country. 

The  project  of  an  expedition  to  rescue  the  Union 
soldiers  from  the  horrible  dungeons  of  Richmond, 
where  they  were  immured,  reached  him  about 
this  time. 

"The  idea  originated  with  General  Kilpatrick, 
and,  on  being  submitted  in  all  its  details,  met  the 
approbation  of  the  Secretary  of  War,  and  of  the 
President  of  the  United  States."* 

The  cruel  usage  to  which  our  brave  men  were 
subjected  in  these  prisons  had  attracted  much  at 
tention  at  the  North,  arousing  the  warmest  feelings 
for  their  sufferings,  and  the  deepest  indignation 
against  those  who  inflicted  them.  All  this  is  now 
a  matter  of  history,  not  to  be  denied  or  extenuated, 
for  the  stamp  of  judicial  decision  has  given  cer 
tainty  to  the  strongest  allegations;  and  at  least  one 

*  Memoir  of  General  Kilpatrick,  by  Dr.  Moore. 

18 


206  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

of  the  infamous  jailers  has  found  a  fitting  end  at 
the  hands  of  the  hangman  for  his  share  in  these 
atrocities. 

This  state  of  things  had  existed  at  Richmond 
from  an  early  period  of  the  rebellion,  and  had  con 
ferred  a  notoriety  on  its  Bastilles  which  will  never 
pass  away.  There  was  not  the  least  attempt  to 
disguise  the  fact.  On  the  contrary,  the  existence 
of  Libby  and  Belle  Isle,  and  the  wretched  condition 
of  our  men  who  were  confined  there,  were  as  well 
known  outside  as  to  the  unfortunate  victims  them 
selves,  who,  in  filth,  and  want,  and  disease,  were 
suffering  all  that  neglect  or  vengeance  could  inflict. 

Neither  the  entreaties  nor  the  denunciations  of 
the  Union  government  or  people  could  shake  the 
fell  purpose  of  those  who  perpetrated  or  permitted 
the  enormity.  It  went  on  increasing  and  extend 
ing  until  the  infamous  pens  of  Salisbury,  and  Flor 
ence,  and  Andersonville  became  as  abhorrent  as 
the  dungeons  of  Richmond ;  but  with  this  dif 
ference,  that  at  Richmond  the  rebel  authorities 
themselves  could  not  fail  to  be  witnesses  of  these 
atrocities.  That  city  supplied  high  places  for 
these  officials,  as  well  as  dungeons  for  Union 
soldiers,  and  graves  for  the  victims.  Within  its 
fortifications  were  gathered  the  first  dignitaries 
of  rebeldom,  as  well  as  the  gallant  sons  of  the 
North  whose  sad  fate  it  had  been  to  become 
their  captives.  The  inhuman  treatment  to  which 


ATTEMPT  TO   RESCUE  PRISONERS.     207 

the  latter  were  subjected  could  not  by  any  possi 
bility  have  been  unknown  to  the  former,  for  it 
occurred  almost  in  their  presence;  and  the  anguish 
it  inflicted  on  loyal  hearts  was  wafted  to  Southern 
ears  on  every  breeze.  The  cry  of  parents,  wives, 
and  children  was  mingled  with  the  wail  of  the 
widow  and  the  orphan.  But  all  in  vain.  If  the 
leaders  did  not  of  themselves  deny  food  and  cloth 
ing  and  space  to  the  wants  of  existence,  they 
permitted  their  wretched  subordinates  to  do  so, 
and  lived  in  view  of  the  dungeons  where  the 
sad  wrecks  of  humanity  that  had  escaped  rebel 
steel  and  bullet  were  being  slowly  consumed  by 
equally  fatal  but  more  terrible  means.  They  could 
hardly  avoid  seeing  the  prison-bars,  which  our 
men  dared  not  approach,  if  only  for  a  breath  of 
the  pure  air  of  heaven,  except  at  the  risk  of  being 
shot  down.  The  tidings  of  such  horrid  barbarity 
were  carried  to  the  North  daily,  and  entered  our 
homes  as  if  the  first-born  had  been  marked  by  the 
destroying  angel. 

Among  our  youth,  no  one  had  been  more  pain 
fully  impressed  with  a  keen  sense  of  this  revolting 
atrocity  than  Ulric  Dahlgren.  It  awakened  his 
deepest  indignation.  War  in  its  mildest  form  is 
cruel  enough  to  sate  a  tiger,  and  he  had  ever 
been  most  careful  to  avoid  aggravating  these  sor 
rows  by  inflicting  needless  pain  on  any.  Little 
was  there  of  the  country  between  the  capital  and 


208  ULRIC  DAHL'GREN. 

the  Rappahannock  that  he  had  not  traversed  by 
day  and  by  night  as  a  soldier  of  the  Union, — along 
its  roads  and  lanes,  over  mountain,  hill,  and  dale, 
through  forest,  and  field,  and  villages,  and  past  the 
farm-houses  of  a  people  avowedly  hostile  to  the 
cause,  who  never  hesitated  to  exhibit  their  feelings 
and  their  resentment  upon  every  occasion.  In  the 
succession  of  fierce  battles  that  pushed  the  army 
under  Pope  back  to  the  very  lines  of  Washington, 
he  had  done  his  part  as  a  good  soldier.  At  Fred- 
ericksburg,  and  Chancellorsville,  and  Gettysburg, 
he  was  among  the  foremost  who  thronged  around 
our  banner  in  its  hour  of  greatest  danger.  His  own 
exploits  at  Fredericksburg,  and  Greencastle,  and 
Hagerstown  will  not  soon  be  forgotten.  He  knew, 
too,  what  it  was  to  face  the  bullet  of  the  assassin 
as  well  as  the  shock  of  open  war,  and  had  been 
marked  for  death  more  than  once  by  the  murder 
ous  marauders  that  infested  the  solitary  paths  of 
the  country.  But  none  of  these  had  ever  provoked 
him  to  vengeance  on  defenseless  prisoners,  or  ren 
dered  him  unmindful  of  the  claims  of  women  and 
children.  He  was  ever  kind  and  gentle  to  their 
helplessness,  and  in  no  single  instance  did  they  or 
their  little  property  ever  suffer  at  his  hands.  An 
undrawn  month's  pay  was  all  of  this  world's  goods 
that  the  noble  youth  left  behind  him. 

But   his    kindly   nature   was    agitated    beyond 
bounds  by  the  unprovoked  and  persistent  barbar- 


ATTEMPT  TO  RESCUE  PRISONERS.     209 

ities  inflicted  in  the  cells  of  Richmond.  When 
visiting  his  father  off  Charleston,  he  often  adverted 
to  them  in  unsparing  terms.  He  looked  upon 
them  as  violations  of  all  law,  human  and  divine, 
and  liable  to  punishment  by  the  same  merciless 
code  that  they  invoked. 

On  his  return  North,  he  was  no  sooner  apprised 
that  the  object  of  the  contemplated  expedition  was 
to  release  the  Union  soldiers  confined  at  Richmond, 
than  he  eagerly  sought  to  join  it. 

It  was  well  known  that  he  was  in  no  condition 
to  take  the  field  just  then;  for,  the  maimed  limb 
not  being  yet  healed,  he  moved  on  crutches,  and  his 
emaciated  frame  gave  token  of  unrestored  vigor; 
wherefore  his  friends  strove  to  dissuade  him  from 
the  undertaking.  But  the  remembrance  of  com 
rades  pining  in  loathsome  dungeons,  and  a  painful 
conviction  of  the  sufferings  of  men  with  whom  he 
had  shared  the  privation  of  the  camp  and  the  dan 
ger  of  the  scout  and  the  skirmish,  and  with  whom 
he  had  ridden  side  by  side  in  the  daring  charge  at 
Beverley  Ford,  and  other  well-fought  fields,  ani 
mated  every  pulse  of  his  gallant  heart.  He  felt  that 
duty  called  him  to  some  effort  in  their  behalf,  and, 
disregarding  every  consideration  of  self,  he  hesitated 
not  to  incur  any  hardship  or  danger  for  their  relief. 

Of  him  it  may  be  truly  said,  as  it  was  of  another, 
that "  Never  did  Christian  knight  of  old  ride  forth  to 
battle  with  the  fierce  infidel  on  the  plains  of  Pales- 
18* 


2io  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

tine,  with  purer,  holier  purpose,  unmixed  with  self 
or  self-interest,  than  did  he,  who  risked  life,  liberty, 
and  fame  to  give  freedom  to  others." 

On  the  1 8th  February,  1864,  Ulric  Dahlgren 
left  Washington,  and,  taking  the  Alexandria  cars, 
reached  Brandy  Station.  There  he  mounted  his 
horse  and  rode  to  General  Kilpatrick's  headquar 
ters,  at  Stevensburg,  some  five  miles  farther.  Here 
he  found  himself  amid  scenes  very  suggestive  of 
past  events  in  the  campaigns  of  Generals  Pope 
and  Hooker;  and  not  far  to  the  northward  was 
Beverley  Ford,  where  he  had  escaped  so  narrowly 
from  death  or  captivity  in  the  previous  year. 

Ten  days  were  passed  in  arranging  and  com 
pleting  details,  during  which  time  Colonel  Dahl 
gren  was  in  daily  consultation  with  the  general 
upon  all  that  concerned  the  expedition. 

The  entire  force  was  to  be  composed  of  cavalry, 
amounting  to  about  four  thousand  men,  of  which 
Ulric  Dahlgren  was  to  command  an  independent 
column  of  five  hundred  men,  selected  from  all  the 
regiments.  With  this  column  he  was  to  diverge 
from  the  route  of  the  main  body,  and,  after  effecting 
certain  purposes,  rejoin  it  at  or  near  Richmond, 
all  entering  the  city  together. 

On  the  28th  of  February  (Sunday)  the  expedi 
tion  moved  on  its  destination. 

But  before  committing  himself  to  the  desperate 
chances  of  the  task,  the  young  soldier  did  not  forget 


ATTEMPT  TO  RESCUE  PRISONERS.     2II 

his  duty  to  his  remaining  parent,  in  which  he  had 
never  failed  during  his  whole  life;  and  now  that  he 
was  about  to  risk  that  life  so  calmly  for  a  solemn 
purpose,  he  felt  that  it  behooved  him  to  leave  be 
hind  a  farewell  to  his  father,  in  case  the  worst 
should  befall  him. 
He  wrote  as  follows  : 

"  HEADQUARTERS  THIRD  DIVISION  CAVALRY  CORPS, 
STEVENSBURG,  Feb.  26,  1864. 

.  "  DEAR  FATHER, — I  have  not  returned  to  the  fleet, 
because  there  is  a  grand  raid  to  be  made,  and  I  am 
to  have  a  very  important  command.  If  successful, 
it  will  be  the  grandest  thing  on  record ;  and  if  it 
fails,  many  of  us  will  'go  up'  I  may  be  captured, 
or  I  may  be  ' tumbled  over ;'  but  it  is  an  undertak 
ing  that  if  I  were  not  in,  I  should  be  ashamed  to 
show  my  face  again.  With  such  an  important  com 
mand,  I  am  afraid  to  mention  it,  for  fear  this  letter 
might  fall  into  wrong  hands  before  reaching  you. 
I  find  that  I  can  stand  the  service  perfectly  well 
without  my  leg.  I  think  we  will  be  successful, 
although  a  desperate  undertaking. 

"Aunt  Patty  can  tell  you,  when  you  return.  I  will 
write  you  more  fully  when  we  return.  If  we  do 
not  return,  there  is*  no  better  place  to  'give,  up  the 
ghost: 

•s  "  Your  affectionate  son, 

"  ULRIC  DAHLGREN." 


212  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

Ulric  Dahlgren  took  the  advance  with  his  column, 
just  as  the  night  was  closing  in.  The  route  lay 
across  the  Rapidan,  by  Ely's  Ford,  where  it  was 
known  that  the  rebels  had  a  strong  picket ;  this  it 
was  indispensable  to  capture  without  giving  alarm 
to  a  superior  force  of  the  enemy,  not  far  distant. 
And  it  was  accomplished  by  a  detachment  under 
the  guidance  of  Mr.  Hogan,  the  skillful  and  daring 
scout,  well  known  to  Colonel  Dahlgren,  and  whom 
he  had  selected  to  pioneer  the  march.  The  Union 
column  was  thus  enabled  to  cross  the  ford  unper- 
ceived. 

Through  the  night  the  sky  was  dark  and  the 
weather  unsettled,  but  it  did  not  rain,  and  the 
column  traveled  onward  rapidly,  halting  next  morn 
ing  at  a  stream  for  the  ambulances,  which,  after 
crossing,  ascended  slowly  the  steep  bank. 

Ulric  Dahlgren  made  use  of  the  opportunity  to 
look  at  his  men,  so  they  were  formed  for  this  pur 
pose,  and  he  rode  twice  along  the  line.  An  officer 
who  was  present  writes,  "  Many  had  never  seen  him 
before.  His  appearance,  however t  gave  general  satis 
faction,  and  expressions  of  confidence  were  heard  all 
around" 

After  this  brief  halt,  the  march  was  resumed,  and 
continued  steadily,  with  the  exception  of  one  stop 
page,  in  the  morning,  to  feed. 

About  two  or  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon, 
Colonel  Dahlgren  struck  the  railroad  (Virginia 


ATTEMPT  TO  RESCUE  PRISONERS. 


213 


Central)  about  a  mile  below  Fredericshall  Station, 
to  which  he  rode.  A  party  of  rebel  officers  who 
were  crossing  the  woods,  little  suspecting  the 
presence  of  Union  soldiers,  were  all  captured ; 
some  were  released  and  a  few  retained,  among 
the  latter  Captain  Dement. 

The  column  now  proceeded  some  five  miles  along 
the  road,  and  tore  up  half  a  mile  of  the  rails,  cut 
the  telegraphic  wire,  and,  quitting  the  track,  turned 
off  southerly,  crossing  the  South  Anna  an  hour  be 
fore  dark. 

About  ten  o'clock  in  the  evening  the  rain,  which 
had  been  threatening  all  da'y,  came  down  heavily, 
continuing  through  the  night.  Such  protracted 
marching  and  severe  exposure  might  well  tax  the 
endurance  of  even  the  hardy  troopers ;  but,  as  one 
who  shared  in  it  writes,  "  Who  could  complain  of 
weariness  when  he  looked  at  the  colonel,  still  weak 
from  his  wound,  riding  along  quietly,  uncomplainingly, 
ever  vigilantly  watching  every  incident  of  the  march  ?" 

It  was  nearly  midnight  when  the  jaded  column 
reached  a  small  grocery-store  that  stood  near  the 
roadside.  Drenched  with  rain,  but  unquelled  in 
spirit,  and  as  cheerful  as  if  not  exposed  to  the  in 
clemency  of  a  February  night,  the  young  soldier 
was  assisted  to  alight  from  his  horse.  In  reply  to 
a  kind  inquiry  whether  he  was  not  fatigued,  he  said, 
"  We'll  have  some  supper  and  two  hours'  sleep,  then 
you'll  see  how  bright  I  am" 


214  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

So  the  weary  men  and  horses  betook  themselves 
to  such  fare  and  repose  as  the  time  allowed. 

Next  morning  (Tuesday,  March  i)  every  man 
was  in  the  saddle  by  daylight,  and  moved  forward, 
notwithstanding  the  dismal  weather,  for  the  rain 
was  still  coming  down ;  but  about  seven  o'clock  it 
ceased,  and  the  sky  showed  signs  of  clearing  off. 
About  ten  o'clock  the  column  reached  the  canal, 
and,  after  cutting  it,  followed  its  general  direction 
for  some  distance.  At  Mannakin  Town,  an  effort 
was  made  to  cross  the  James  River  by  fording, 
under  the  guidance  of  a  negro,  but  it  was  too 
deep,  and  the  design  to  approach  Richmond  by 
the  southern  bank  failed. 

Colonel  Dahlgren  struck  the  plank  road  about 
one  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  and  followed  it  until 
three  o'clock,  when  some  rebel  pickets  were  en 
countered,  and  driven  back  after  some  sharp  firing. 
Diverging  here  from  the  plank  road,  he  began  to 
approach  the  city  more  directly. 

By  this  time,  both  men  and  horses  stood  in  need 
of  some  respite.  A  halt  was  therefore  ordered 
when  nearly  dark,  and  such  a  meal  taken  as  the 
circumstances  permitted ;  this  occurred  about  eight 
miles  from  Richmond. 

The  thoughts  of  the  youthful  leader  were,  how 
ever,  intent  on  a  graver  matter.  Not  a  token  yet 
greeted  eye  or  ear  of  the  presence  of  the  main  body, 
though  he  was  quite  near  enough  to  the  scene  of 


ATTEMPT  TO  RESCUE  PRISONERS.     215 

action  to  detect  either,  if  Kilpatrick  were  at  hand. 
Should  the  junction  fail,  then  was  he  left  to  his  own 
resources,  with  a  mere  handful  of  wearied  men,  in 
the  midst  of  a  hostile  country,  and  so  near  the 
chief  rebel  stronghold  that  even  to  extricate  his 
command  from  such  a  critical  situation  would  be 
come  difficult  as  soon  as  it  was  discovered.  It  was 
evident  that  he  felt  assured  at  this  time  of  the  failure 
to  connect  with  the  main  force,  and,  therefore,  that 
the  expedition  was  not  to  succeed ;  for  at  the  scanty 
meal  just  taken,  he  expressed  his  disappointment 
at  not  having  some  sign  of  the  presence  of  the 
general;  but  "so  quietly  was  this  said"  writes  an 
officer,  "that,  but  for  a  sad  glance  from  his  eye,  one 
would  not  have  known  how  mucli  lie  felt  it" 

It  behooved  Ulric  Dahlgren,  therefore,  to  take 
such  measures  as  might  look  solely  to  a  reliance 
on  himself  and  the  force  which  he  had,  and  he 
proceeded  on  this  assumption  with  his  usual  spirit 
and  promptness.  It  might  have  been  possible  to 
withdraw  and  retrace  his  steps  with  comparative 
security;  but  this  course  ill  suited  with  his  temper 
or  judgment.  Moreover,  he  felt  bound  in  honor 
to  ascertain  beyond  peradventure  that  the  main 
body  was  not  somewhere  in  the  vicinity  of  the  city. 

The  order  was  therefore  given  to  move  on,  and 
about  dark  the  little  band  of  Union  horsemen  was 
riding  forward  directly  upon  Richmond. 

As  a  friend  assisted  him  to.  mount,  he  remarked, 


2i6  ULR1C  DAHLGREN. 

with  his  accustomed  cheerfulness,  on  the  awkward 
ness  of  his  crippled  limb,  and  added,  "  We  are  going 
on  ;  and  if  we  succeed,  Pd  gladly  lose  the  other'' 

Our  cavalry  was  soon  so  close  to  Richmond  as 
to  come  in  contact  with  some  rebel  infantry  posted 
in  the  advanced  works;  for  Kilpatrick  had  ap 
peared  in  the  morning,  and  caused  the  wildest 
alarm  throughout  the  whole  city. 

At  this  moment,  far  away  from  all  succor,  with 
only  a  small  force  of  troopers,  and  hardly  more 
than  a  gunshot  from  the  stronghold  of  rebeldom, 
the  splendid  courage  of  the  young  leader  had  never 
blazed  forth  more  brightly. 

One  who  was  near  him  says,  "  The  skirmishing 
was  heavy,  the  enemy's  fire  very  annoying;  but  I 
stopped,  in  admiration  of  the  colonel's  coolness.  He 
rode  along  the  line,  speaking  to  the  men,  so  calm,  so 
quiet,  so  brave,  that  it  seemed  to  me  the  veriest  coward 
must  needs  figl it,  if  never  before'' 

Then  came  the  charge,  Ulric  Dahlgren  among 
the  foremost,  scattering  the  enemy  and  driving  them 
into  their  works. 

Nothing  more  remained  to  be  done  except  to 
ride  on  and  endeavor  to  gain  the  Union  lines  below. 

The  night  was  dark,  the  rain  fell  in  torrents,  the 
storm  beat  into  the  faces  of  the  wearied  troopers, 
and  even  their  cloaks  were  stiffened  with  sleet. 
They  had  been  in  their  saddles,  with  little  inter 
mission,  for  three  days.  Ulric  Dahlgren  himself 


ATTEMPT  TO  RESCUE  PRISONERS.     217 

rode  with  the  advance,  about  one  hundred  strong, 
leaving  at  intervals  pickets  on  white  horses  to  mark 
the  course  taken  ;  *  but,  notwithstanding  this  pre 
caution,  the  main  body  became  separated  from  the 
advance,  and  thus  the  gallant  youth  was  left  to  his 
fate.  At  what  time  the  separation"  occurred  seems 
to  have  been  entirely  unknown,  owing  to  the 
severity  of  the  storm. 

Through  the  whole  dreary  night,  rapidly  onward 
rode  the  little  Union  party. 

WEDNESDAY,   MARCH    2,  THE    LAST     DAY    OF    A 
GLORIOUS  LIFE. 

The  heavy  clouds  of  the  night  were  fast  breaking 
in  the  east,  and  the  pelting  rain,  which  had  drenched 
and  chilled  the  men  and  horses  all  night,  was  now 
ceasing.  It  was  a  wintry  morning,  and  the  genial 
influence  of  the  sun  was.  yet  unfelt  The  situation 
might  well  test  the  stoutest  heart.  The  devoted 
band  counted  less  than  a  hundred  men, — wearied 
to  the  extreme  by  continued  travel,  with  little 
intermission  for  sixty  hours,  over  unfrequented 
roads  and  through  forests,  scantily  and  ill  fed, 
drenched  with  heavy  and  repeated  rain,  chilled  by 
cold  and  beating  winds,  in  the  midst  of  a  hostile 
and  vindictive  population,  away  from  all  help,  and 
dispirited  by  failure.  But  their  indomitable  leader 

*  Mr.  Hogan's  account. 
19 


2i8  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

still  rose  superior  to  all  the  difficulties  that  en 
compassed  him,  as  well  as  to  his  own  bodily 
infirmities.  As  usual,  he  rode  in  the  front :  that 
had  always  been  his  post,  and  so  it  was  to  remain 
to  the  last  breath  of  life. 

The  sun  had  not  risen  far  above  the  horizon 
when  the  advance  reached  the  banks  of  the  swollen 
and  rapid  Pamunkey.  With  celerity  the  men  dis 
mounted,  crowded  into  the  ferry-boat  with  their 
horses,  and  pushed  across. 

Having  thus  reached  the  farther  bank,  a  halt  was 
ordered,  to  feed  the  jaded  horses  and  their  riders. 
The  scanty  fare  was  eagerly  devoured,  and  as  much 
time  given  to  rest  as  the  circumstances  permitted, 
after  which  the  party  once  more  took  to  the  saddle. 
The  route  lay  along  the  river-bank  for  three  or  four 
miles,  and  then  away  to  the  left  for  the  main  road. 

Presently  a  rebel  soldier  started  from  some 
hiding-place,  not,  however,  without  discharging 
his  piece  at  our  men,  which  provoked  a  return 
that  was  fatal  to  him. 

As  the  little  command  proceeds,  and  the  day 
advances,  the  seventy  of  the  weather  relaxes ;  the 
sun  has  passed  the  meridian,  and  is  more  than  an 
hour  on  the  descent,  when  the  Mattapony  is 
reached. 

Meanwhile,  the  country  is  up  and  gathering 
about  the  way  of  the  devoted  band ;  every  step  of 
its  march  has  been  dogged. 


ATTEMPT  TO  RESCUE  PRISONERS.     219 

No  evidence  of  this  appears  at  the  ferry,  which 
is  now  at  hand,  but  still  the  ordinary  precautions 
are  observed,  of  posting  a  few  vedettes  to  hold  the 
bank  while  the  men  descend,  and  are  ferried  over 
in  squads  as  numerous  as  the  scow  permits.  The 
horses  must  swim. 

Presently  comes  the  crack  of  a  rifle,  then  another 
and  another  ;  the  enemy  is  evidently  on  the  track. 
Our  vedettes  unsling  their  carbines  and  return  the 
fire,  until  the  main  force  is  safely  over  the  river ; 
then,  at  the  word,  the  rear-guard  dashes  down  the 
bank,  and  are  soon  in  safety  with  their  comrades. 

Colonel  Dahlgren  had  dismounted,  and  placed 
himself  by  the  river-side,  watching  and  directing 
the  passage  of  his  men.  In  vain  was  he  impor 
tuned  to  cross  the  river.  He  remained  there,  rest 
ing  on  his  crutches,  until  every  man  and  horse  had 
passed  over.  When  this  was  accomplished,  he 
stood  alone  and  erect,  disregarding  the  bullets 
which  struck  near  him  on  all  sides,  and  calmly 
awaiting  the  return  of  the  ferry-boat.  It  must  have 
been  as  plain  to  the  rebels  that  he,  whom  they  made 
the  target  for  their  rifles,  was  crippled  —  for  he 
needed  the  support  of  crutches — as  it  was  that  the 
river  rolled  between  him  and  his  men,  separating 
him  from  all  assistance.  Any  resolute  man  of  their 
number  could  have  rushed  forward  and  borne 
away,  by  main  force,  the  enfeebled  frame  of  the 
young  soldier.  In  contempt  of  such  miserable 


220  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

pusillanimity,  Ulric  Dahlgren  turned  occasionally 
towards  the  bushes  that  sheltered  these  brave  men 
and  fired  his  revolver  defiantly,  calling  on  them 
to  come  out  from  their  hiding-place. 

But  the  gallant  youth  was  not  yet  to  close  his 
glorious  career ;  the  ferry-boat  bore  him  over  un 
harmed,  and  he  was  once  more  in  the  saddle,  riding 
forward  with  his  little  party. 

This  was  about  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  and 
the  road  they  pursued  led  them  through  the  woods. 

It  is  stated  that  about  this  time  the  rebels  took 
the  opportunity  of  ascertaining  exactly  the  number 
of  this  small  force,  and  thus  made  sure  that  it  was 
less  than  one  hundred  men  ;  so  they  contrived  to 
collect  various  scattered  parties  from  the  neighbor 
hood,  until  three  or  four  times  the  force  of  our 
retreating  cavalry  was  obtained. 

Even  with  this  superiority,  no  effort  was  made  to 
face  Ulric  Dahlgren  and  his  handful  of  troopers,  so 
as  to  bring  about  a  fair,  manly  conflict  in  open  day. 
Some  of  those  who  gathered  about  their  prey  had 
met  him  in  Fredericksburg,  and,  though  in  far 
greater  numbers,  had  been  driven  before  him 
through  the  streets,  until  they  fled  ignominiously 
out  of  the  town,  and  were  beyond  pursuit;  they 
had  no  taste  now  for  a  repetition.  So  they  fired 
from  the  bushes  at  our  passing  men,  and  hung  on 
the  rear ;  to  relieve  which  Colonel  Dahlgren  as 
signed  a  small  party  to  Mr.  Hogan,  who,  for  some 


ATTEMPT  TO  RESCUE  PRISONERS.     22I 

time,  performed  this  duty  handsomely,  losing  but 
one  of  his  men, — a  result  which  he  attributes  mainly 
to  the  good  conduct  of  his  followers,  conspicuous 
among  whom  was  a  sergeant  named  Scholefield. 

This  lasted  until  dark,  when  a  bridge  was  reached 
and  crossed ;  half  a  mile  farther  on,  Colonel  Dahl- 
gren  ordered  a  halt,  in  order  to  feed  and  rest  his 
exhausted  party. 

The  colored  attendant  drew  a  few  rails  from  the 
fence  near  by,  and  spread  a  blanket  over  them  ; 
upon  this  rude  couch  the  noble  young  soldier  took 
his  last  repose.  In  a  brief  half-hour  he  was  again 
awake,  and  once  more  put  his  men  in  motion. 

The  night  was  obscure,  but  it  did  not  rain,  and 
the  road  led  chiefly  among  wooded  land.  No  mo 
lestation  seems  to  have  been  experienced  until  the 
final  catastrophe. 

With  the  abundant  precaution  that  marked  the 
whole  conduct  of  the  pursuit,  an  ambush  had  been 
prepared  a  few  miles  farther. 

Ulric  Dahlgren  was,  as  usual,  riding  with  the 
leading  files.  It  was  about  midnight,  and  the  dark 
ness  lent  additional  obscurity  to  the  growth  of 
bushes  and  trees  through  which  the  road  lay.  It 
is  impossible  to  describe  with  accuracy  the  rapid 
succession  of  events  that  were  crowded  into  the 
minute.  Some  rustling  of  leaves  or  branches  gave 
token,  to  the  keen  senses  of  the  leader,  of  a  skulking 
foe.  Instantly  his  weapon  was  in  his  hand.  Words 


222  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

passed,  but  what  they  were,  or  by  whom  uttered, 
no  one  can  say  with  precision, — doubtless  they 
were  not  more  than  a  peremptory  challenge  and 
reply ;  then  came  the  sharp  rattling  volley,  startling 
the  echoes  of  the  forest  and  lighting  up  its  deepest 
recesses. 

In  that  sad  moment  fell  the  horse  and  his  heroic 
rider.  Ulric  Dahlgren  was  no  more.  Never  again 
should  he  lift  in  defense  of  his  country  that  hand, 
which  he  had  raised  on  a  sick-bed  in  solemn  fealty 
to  the  Union  cause. 

All  was  now  confusion  in  the  ranks  of  that  ex 
hausted  little  band.  The  men  dispersed  or  surren 
dered  without  resistance,  and  with  few  exceptions 
became  captives. 

It  is  certain  now,  that  not  a  single  ball  struck 
the  gallant  boy  in  front.  Four  entered  the  left  side 
and  back,  exhibiting  in  the  most  marked  manner 
the  respect  felt  for  his  martial  virtues  by  the  horde 
who,  aided  by  some  of  that  cavalry  which  fled  in 
abject  fear  before  him  at  Fredericksburg,  sought 
the  shelter  of  a  midnight  ambush  to  do  their  cow 
ardly  work. 

Thus  perished  Colonel  Ulric  DahlgrenJ^efore  he 
had  completed  the  twenty-first  year  of  his  age.  He 
fell,  as  became  a  good  soldier,  at  the  head  of  his 
men,  as  a  patriot  and  a  lover  of  humanity;  for  his 
heart  was  filled  with  sorrow  at  the  wretchedness 
of  his  captive  comrades,  and  his  mission  was  to 


ATTEMPT  TO  RESCUE  PRISONERS. 


223 


rescue  them  from  the  cruel  dungeons  in  which 
they  were  wasting  away. 

That  he  fell  not  in  battle  was  the  choice  of  the 
infamous  crew  that  dogged  his  steps  with  greater 
numbers,  and  dared  not  assail  him  by  the  light  of 
day ;  whose  lasting  shame  it  will  be,  that  they  made 
an  ambush  sure,  by  resorting  to  the  darkest  hour 
of  night. 

To  the  fantastic  vagaries  of  the  code  that  affected 
the  borrowed  plumes  of  a  past  age,  he  subscribed 
not ;  but  as  a  true  son  of  the  North,  a  fair  type  of 
her  noble  youth,  he  followed  those  maxims  which 
taught  him  to  "love  mercy,  deal  justly,  and  walk 
humbly  witJi  his  God." 

To  the  foe,  even  though  he  confronted  him  as  a 
traitor,  and  a  bitter  enemy  to  the  Union,  he  always 
offered  fair,  open  battle,  such  as  one  brave  man 
might  offer  to  another.  To  strike  him  down  by  the 
midnight  bullet  from  the  lonely  ambush,  as  he  fell 
himself,  had  no  place  in  the  rule  by  which  he  was 
guided.  And  history  will  not  fail  to  wrrite  down 
such  an  act  as  assassination. 

"  Almost  alone,  without  the  trump  and  blazonry  of  war, 

In  darkness, hand  to  hand  with  death,  thou  wert  death's  conqueror." 


CHAPTER    XII. 
"THE  BEAUTY  OF  ISRAEL  is  SLAIN  UPON  THY 

HIGH    PLACES." 

EVERY  sentiment  of  civilization  limits  war  and 
its  dread  scourges  to  the  grave.  Beyond  its 
solemn  confines  human  vengeance  may  not  venture 
to  pursue;  to  do  otherwise  is  to  violate  every  pre 
cept,  Christian  and  humane. 

Heathen  moralists  go  even  further,  and  proscribe 
ill  speaking  of  the  dead:  " de  mortuis  nihil  nisi 
bonum."  Shall  the  milder  virtues  of  the  gospel 
inculcate  less  ? 

But  to  insult  the  dead,  and  offer  indignity  to  the 
remains  of  the  bitterest  foe,  will  be  tolerated  no 
where  by  the  common  feeling ;  it  can  only  be  the 
work  of  cowardly  ruffians,  in  defiance  alike  of  de 
cency  and  law.  Savages  may  glut  their  hate  and 
fear  upon  a  fallen  or  expiring  enemy,  but  that  alone 
is  accepted  everywhere  as  the  best  evidence  of  their 
brutish  nature  and  low  degree  in  the  human  family. 

The  ferocity  which  so  often  stained  the  slavery 
cause  was  in  no  instance  more  disgracefully  ex- 

(224) 


INDIGNITIES  OFFERED  HIS  REMAINS,     22$ 

hibited  than  in  the  treatment  to  which  the  remains 
of  Ulric  Dahlgren  were  subjected. 

His  fall  had  been  the  signal  for  the  surrender  or 
dispersion  of  the  little  party  that  remained  with  him. 
Some  betook  themselves  to  the  first  friendly  covert, 
while  the  greater  part,  hopeless  of  escape,  collected 
in  a  field  near  by,  and  there  awaited  the  captivity 
that  seemed  inevitable. 

Here  it  would  be  supposed  the  bitterest  hate 
might  pause  and  be  sated.  Not  so.  What  ensued 
was  well  in  accord  with  the  atrocity  that  doomed 
captives  to  worse  than  death. 

The  light  of  the  following  morning  fell  on  a 
spectacle  that  might  have  shamed  the  most  fero 
cious  nature  that  ever  disgraced  humanity.  Upon 
the  bare  ground,  near  the  roadside,  was  stretched 
the  lifeless  body  of  Ulric  Dahlgren ;  not  as  he  fell, 
but  stripped  of  every  vestige  of  garment.  The  ab 
sent  limb  told  of  battle,  and  proud  achievement, 
and  patriotic  sacrifice ;  the  severed  finger  was  the 
work  of  the  midnight  thief. 

The  villainous  act  was  not  perpetrated  by  the 
wretched  creatures  who  follow  the  camp,  and  flit 
like  vultures  about  the  battle-field,  but  by  the  men 
of  the  surrounding  country,  in  arms  for  their  cause; 
"the  farmers  by  day,  and  the  felons  by  night"  so  in 
dignantly  denounced  by  the  preacher  in  his  tribute 
to  the  heroic  dead. 

Truly,  such  was  a  fitting  consummation  of  the 


226  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

midnight  ambush  and  the  dishonest  blow  of  the 
assassin's  bullet. 

Presently  came  the  sad  train  of  captive  Union 
soldiers,  on  their  way  to  the  very  dungeons  from 
which  they  had  hoped  to  release  their  comrades. 
It  is  said  that  they  were  marched  by  the  spot 
where,  thus  inhumanly  exposed,  lay  the  body  of 
their  noble  young  leader,  all  insensible  to  the  out 
rage. 

Be  it  remembered  that  these  infamous  acts  were 
committed  before  the  rebel  authorities  had  thought 
fit  to  fashion  the  objects  of  the  expedition  after  their 
own  views ;  they  were  done  with  unheated  blood, 
and  merely  followed  the  instincts  of  the  perpetrators. 

After  the  news  had  reached  Richmond  that 
Colonel  Dahlgren  had  fallen,  and  that  the  handful 
of  men  with  him  had  been  dispersed  or  captured, 
it  was  bruited  about  that  the  purpose  of  the  expe 
dition  was  solely  to  destroy  Richmond,  and  to  slay 
the  chiefs  of  the  rebellion, — a  statement  well  cal 
culated  to  inflame  the  population,  not  yet  recovered 
from  the  abject  dread  into  which  they  had  been 
thrown  by  the  appearance  of  the  Union  cavalry  so 
near  the  city,  and  justly  apprehensive  of  the  con 
sequences  that  might  ensue  from  the  sudden  release 
of  the  Union  soldiers  immured  in  the  cells  of  Libby 
and  Belle  Isle  :  to  them  no  mercy  had  been  shown, 
what,  therefore,  could  be  expected  from  them  ? 

A  mob  is  proverbially  cruel  and  cowardly ;  no- 


INDIGNITIES  OFFERED  HIS  REMAINS.     227 

thing,  therefore,  was  so  likely  to  work  upon  their 
passions  as  such  a  rumor.  The  publication  of 
orders  asserted  to  have  been  found  on  the  person 
of  Colonel  Dahlgren  followed  in  a  few  days,  and 
on  Monday  the  body  of  the  gallant  youth  was  dis 
interred,  and  brought  to  Richmond,  where  it  was 
exposed  to  public  view,  at  the  depot  of  the  York 
River  Railroad. 

Nothing  better  was  permitted  to  the  precious 
remains  than  a  common  pine  box,  the  coarse  shirt 
and  pantaloons  of  a  rebel  soldier,  with  an  ordinary 
camp-blanket  for  a  shroud. 

The  once  perfect  proportions  had  been  sadly 
mutilated.  The  limb  that  was  gone  suggested  re 
membrance  of  an  event  most  abhorrent  to  rebeldom, 
—when  at  Gettysburg  its  best  army  recoiled  before 
the  men  of  the  Union,  and  Ulric  Dahlgren,  leading 
a  desperate  charge  into  Hagerstown,  hesitated  not 
to  peril  his  life  in  an  effort  to  destroy  the  trains 
of  the  retreating  host.  The  missing  finger  told 
another  story,  one  of  utter  and  infamous  turpitude. 
It  had  borne  a  ring, — a  plain  gold  ring, — of  little 
worth  if  counted  in  mere  dross,  but  inestimable  as 
the  memorial  of  a  dearly-loved,  deceased  sister. 
To  secure  this,  the  assassins  who  waylaid  his  steps 
and  did  midnight  murder  from  the  shelter  of  a 
hedge,  hesitated  not  to  violate  the  sanctity  of  death, 
and  mutilate  the  noble  hand  which  had  so  often 
been  raised  against  their  armed  treason,  in  behalf 


228  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

of  his  bleeding  country;  it  was  a  deed  truly  in 
keeping  with  the  events  that  went  before  and  fol 
lowed. 

Were  there  none  in  that  crowd  who  looked  with 
loathing  upon  the  spectacle,  and  were  touched  at 
the  sight  of  his  extreme  youth,  and  felt  how  utterly 
fiendish  and  cowardly  it  was,  thus  to  desecrate  the 
dead? 

The  mob  gazed,  no  doubt,  as  mobs  always  do, 
with  exultation  that  their  fear  was  at  an  end.  They 
little  dreamed  that  the  avenger  was  not  far  off,  that, 
before  the  year  had  expired,  their  unholy  rebellion 
would  be  withering,  as  a  scroll,  before  the  blazing 
banner  of  the  republic,  Grant  at  the  very  portals 
of  Richmond,  and  Sherman  looming  up  from  the 
south,  like  a  rising  storm,  branding  in  terrible 
characters  the  doom  of  treason.  Their  very  city 
would  be  consuming  with  desolating  fires,  kin 
dled,  not  by  the  hands  of  Union  soldiers,  but  by 
the  orders  of  their  own  authorities.  They  saw  not 
the  writing  on  the  wall,  but  yet  it  was  before  them. 

So  there  lay  the  maimed  but  noble  relics  of  the 
Union  martyr,  entirely  heedless  of  all  that  the  hate 
and  fear  of  his  enemies  could  bestow :  the  ignominy 
was  theirs. 

When  the  gaze  of  the  tiger-horde  had  been  sated, 
the  body  disappeared  from  public  view;  it  was 
doomed  to  concealment  in  some  nameless  spot. 
How  vain ! 


HONORS  PAID  HIS  REMAINS.  229 

It  was  to  justify  these  ruthless  acts  that  the  an 
nouncement,  already  mentioned,  had  been  spread 
about  in  regard  to  the  orders  alleged  to  have  been 
found  on  Colonel  Dahlgren  after  he  fell,  which  were 
said  to  have  directed  the  death  of  the  insurgent 
President  and  the  destruction  of  Richmond. 

But  the  unrighteous  purpose  of  the  rebel  authori 
ties  was  defeated  in  the  fullness  of  time,  and  the  re 
mains  of  Ulric  Dahlgren,  which  had  been  so  brutally 
insulted  in  Richmond,  were  received  with  every 
mark  of  respect  and  sorrow  in  the  capital  of  the 
nation  and  in  the  principal  cities  of  the  two  States 
through  which  they  passed.  In  Washington,  they 
reposed  in  the  Council-chamber  of  the  city,  and, 
after  an  eloquent  discourse  by  one  of  our  most 
eminent  divines,  which  was  listened  to  by  the 
President,  several  members  of  the  Cabinet,  and  a 
throng  of  sympathizing  citizens,  they  were  con 
veyed,  through  Baltimore,  to  Philadelphia,  were 
laid  in  the  time-honored  Hall  of  Independence, 
where  another  touching  address  was  delivered,  and 
were  then  attended  to  the  grave  with  every  military 
honor. 

And  thus,  as  always,  violence  and  injustice  fell 
short  of  the  aim  intended  ;  nay,  more,  they  recoiled 
on  their  perpetrators  in  the  end  with  tenfold  more 
effect  than  upon  the  object  of  their  ferocious  and 
unrelenting  hate.  The  barbarity  of  the  proceed 
ings  just  mentioned  operated  to  the  detriment  of 

20 


230  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

the  cause  that  it  was  designed  to  serve,  for  it  proved 
by  deed  more  conclusively  than  could  be  done  by 
words  that  the  rebellion  disgraced  the  most  sacred 
instincts  of  humanity  in  waging  war  against  the 
lawful  government.  It  showed  to  the  whole  world 
that  the  spirit  that  animated  it  was  utterly  at  vari 
ance  with  every  principle  of  civilized  life.  The  evils 
of  war  have  too  often  been  aggravated  by  disgraceful 
excesses,  but  never  under  the  avowed  sanction  of 
high  authority,  and  they  seldom  admit  of  extenua 
tion,  except  under  the  plea  of  hot  blood  and  san 
guinary  battle.  Here,  with  calm  pulse,  and  with 
deliberate  design,  we  have  a  set  of  men  assuming  to 
be  a  government,  giving  their  sanction,  if  not  direc 
tion,  to  the  most  heartless  and  disgraceful  desecra 
tion  of  a  dead  body.  It  justified  the  avenging  sword 
which,  they  alleged,  had  been  leveled  at  their  own 
lives,  and  invoked  a  retribution,  without  appeal,  on 
their  own  heads,  unless,  indeed,  it  could  have  been 
urged  as  an  exception  to  their  general  conduct  of 
the  war,  as  a  solitary  departure  from  a  kind  and 
merciful  treatment  of  those  whom  the  fortune  of 
battle  had  made  their  prisoners.  Was  this  so  ?  Far 
from  it.  It  was  only  one  more  dark  spot  on  the 
blood-stained  blazonry  of  disloyal  war;  the  very 
object  to  which  Ulric  Dahlgren  had  devoted  his 
life  was  the  rescue  of  his  comrades  from  a  captivity 
unparalleled  in  horrors.  Thousands  of  our  men 
were  perishing,  by  slow  and  cruel  death,  in  the 


REBEL    TREA  TMENT  OF   UNION  MEN. 


231 


dungeons  of  Richmond, — by  hunger  and  thirst,  by 
the  heat  of  summer  and  the  chill  of  winter,  by  slow, 
wasting  disease,  and  filth,  and  vermin,  or,  at  times, 
by  a  welcome  bullet  from  the  jailer-guard.  In  this 
association  come  the  memory  of  Fort  Pillow,  and 
the  massacre  of  our  unresisting  soldiers ;  the  in 
carceration  of  fifty  Union  officers,  at  Charleston, 
placed  where  our  artillery  fire  was  heaviest, — the 
purpose  not  to  be  mistaken  or  disavowed,  for  it 
was  officially  notified ;  the  pursuit  of  escaping 
prisoners  by  bloodhounds ;  the  disinterment,  at 
Charleston,  of  the  body  of  an  officer*  of  the  Union 
fleet,  who  had  been  mortally  wounded  on  the  ruined 
walls  of  Sumter,  while  gallantly  leading  his  men  to 
the  assault.  There  was  no  pretext  to  justify  the 
least  slight  to  this  brave  officer;  and  yet,  when, by 
the  pious  care  of  a  friendly  hand,f  his  mortal  re 
mains  had  been  consigned  to  the  grave,  they  were 
not  permitted  to  rest  there  undisturbed,  but  were 
rudely  dragged  thence,  and  ejected  from  Mag 
nolia  Cemetery,  as  if  the  dust  of  the  Union  soldier 
were  not  worthy  to  mingle  with  the  best  of  the 
land.J 

*  Lieutenant  Bradford,  United  States  marines,  September,  1863. 

f  Dr.  Mackey,  of  Charleston. 

\  March  16,  1865.  Admiral  Dahlgren  caused  the  remains  of 
this  brave  man  to  be  transferred  from  the  potters'  field,  and  in 
terred,  with  military  honors  and  Christian  rites,  in  the  finest  site  of 
Magnolia  Cemetery. 


232  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

Such  a  catalogue  was  fitly  concluded  with  the 
murder  of  our  beloved  President,  not  in  the  fray  of 
the  field  by  the  sword  of  the  soldier,  but  by  the 
bullet  of  a  base  assassin,  who,  stealing  upon  the 
hour  of  innocent  recreation,  took  a  noble  life  from 
the  country,  and,  in  the  exultant  utterance  of  the 
instant  thought,  fully  proclaimed  to  what  counsels 
he  owed  his  inspiration.  Nor  was  it  intended  that 
the  design  should  be  limited  to  this  great  sacrifice. 
Another,  high  in  state,  had  been  marked,  but  the 
hand  of  the  sneaking  wretch  who  stole  into  the 
sick-chamber  of  his  victim  failed  him  at  the  moment 
when  he  would  have  taken  life. 

Such  was  the  bitter  and  remorseless  spirit  that 
unholy  rebellion  called  to  its  aid,  and  which  spread 
over  its  confines,  until  it  became  the  practice,  if  not 
the  principle,  of  disloyalty. 

What  right  had  those  who  invoked  it,  to  cry  out 
against  the  just  consequences  of  their  own  ruthless 
system,  or  to  ask  for  mercy  when  the  chief  con 
spirators  were  in  the  hands  of  justice,  to  answer  for 
the  treason  which"  has  blighted  this  fair  land  with 
all  the  horrors  of  civil  war,  and  brought  death  and 
desolation  to  so  many  hearth-stones  ?  Why  did 
they  not  proclaim  the  rule  of  action  then,  as  noiv, 
to  be,  that 

"  There  is  a  time  in  the  affairs  of  men  when  narroiv- 
minded  prejudice  and  vituperation  should  cease.  It  is 
only  tJie  bloodhound  that  ivill  hunt  his  victim  doivn, 


< 

& 

I — I 

in 
w 

§ 

EH 

a 

tn 

EH 


w 


I 


Q 

nq 
o 
P4 
o 
^ 

w 


ALLEGED    ORDERS— A   FORGERY.       233 

as  it  ivere,  to  the  very  tomb,  and  there  bay  at  the  dead 
victim!'* 

Why  should  this  sentiment,  so  true  under  all 
circumstances,  have  been  discarded  from  the  mem 
ory  of  rebeldom,  until  the  lives  of  its  leaders  had 
been  brought  into  jeopardy,  and  they  were  ar 
raigned  at  the  bar  of  justice  ? 

But,  as  often  happens  when  bad  passions  control 
action,  the  conduct  of  the  rebel  authorities  was  not 
excused  even  by  the  plea  which  they  set  up  as 
sufficient.  The  document  alleged  to  have  been 
found  upon  the  person  of  Colonel  Dahlgren  is 
utterly  discredited  by  the  fact  that  the  signature 
attached  to  it  cannot  possibly  be  his  own,  because 
it  is  not  his  name, — a  letter  is  misplaced,  and  the 
real  name  Dahlgren  is  spelled  Dalligren;  hence  it 
is  undeniable  that  the  paper  is  not  only  spurious, 
but  is  a  forgery.  Evidence,  almost  as  positive,  is 
to  be  found  in  the  writing  of  the  Christian  prefix 
of  the  signature.  The  document  is  signed  "  U. 
Dalhgren,"  whereas  Colonel  Dahlgren  invariably 
signed  himself  "  Ulric  Dahlgren,"  never  with  the  bare 
initial  of  the  first  name.  Among  all  the  letters  of 
his  writing  which  can  be  collected,  not  an  instance 
to  the  contrary  occurs,  down  to  the  last  that  he 
ever  wrote,  just  before  starting  for  Richmond. 

*  Columbus  Times. 
2O* 


234 


ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 


It  is  entirely  certain  that  no  such  orders  were 
ever  issued  by  Colonel  Dahlgren.  All  that  he  gave 
were  verbal,  as  might  have  been  expected  under  the 
circumstances,  and  in  no  case  intimated,  in  the  least 
degree,  the  intention  conveyed  by  the  obnoxious 
passages  of  the  spurious  order.  Nothing  of  the 
kind  was  received  by  the  officers  or  privates  of  the 
command,  even  to  the  time  when  Richmond  was  in 
view ;  and  it  is  highly  improbable  that  they  would 
have  been  uninformed  of  any  important  purpose  of 
the  expedition  when  they  were  supposed  to  be  on 
the  verge  of  action.  Lieutenant  Bartley,  the  signal- 
officer  of  the  column,  in  a  published  letter,*  after 
giving  an  account  of  the  treatment  received  when 
a  prisoner,  says : 

"All  this  brutal  punishment  was  inflicted  upon 
us,  according  to  the  statement  of  the  Confederate 
prison  officials,  on  account  of  those  papers  said  to 
have  been  found  on  the  body  of  Colonel  Dahlgren  at 
the  time  he  was  killed.  But  the  name  of  Colonel 
Dahlgren  can  never  be  injured  by  any  slander  or 
forgery  that  can  be  concocted  by  all  the  enemies  of 
our  country.  His  deeds  speak  for  themselves.  His 
career  with  Sigel,  Burnside,  Hooker,  Meade,  and 
Kilpatrick,  together  with  his  exploits  at  Fredericks- 
burg,  Beverley  Ford,  Chambersburg,  and  in  front 

*  December  29,  1864. 


STATEMENT  OF  LIEUT.  HARTLEY.      235 

of  Richmond,  will  live  when  the  name  of  the  last 
traitor  in  the  land  is  forgotten. 

"I  pronounce  those  papers  a  base  forgery,  and 
will  give  some  of  my  reasons  for  so  doing.  I  was 
with  the  expedition  in  the  capacity  of  signal-officer, 
and  was  the  only  staff-officer  with  him.  I  had 
charge  of  all  the  material  for  destroying  bridges, 
blowing  up  locks,  aqueducts,  etc.  I  knew  all  his 
plans,  what  he  intended  to  do  and  how  he  intended 
doing  it,  and  I  know  that  I  never  received  any  such 
instructions  as  those  papers  are  said  to  contain.  I 
also  heard  all  the  orders  and  instructions  given  to 
the  balance  of  the  officers  of  the  command.  Men 
cannot  carry  out  orders  they  know  nothing  of. 
The  colonel's  instructions  were,  that  if  we  were  suc 
cessful  in  entering  the  city,  to  take  no  life  except  in 
combat ;  to  keep  all  prisoners  safely  guarded,  but  to 
treat  them  with  respect ;  liberate  all  the  Union  pris 
oners,  destroy  the  public  buildings  and  government 
stores,  and  leave  the  city  by  way  of  the  Peninsula." 

It  is,  of  course,  entirely  superfluous  to  analyze  a 
document  as  to  chirography,  or  other  details,  so 
long  as  the  signature  is  an  unquestioned  forgery, 
for  that  determines  all ;  and,  failing  as  a  vindication, 
it  becomes  an  aggravation  of  the  infamous  treatment 
inflicted  upon  the  remains  of  a  true  and  undaunted 
son  of  the  country. 

The  expedition  to    Richmond  was    undertaken 


236  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

solely  to  release  the  captive  Union  soldiers,  who 
were  penned  by  thousands  in  its  wretched  prisons, 
suffering  and  dying  from  want  of  food  and  the  most 
ordinary  necessaries  of  life.  But  for  that  object,  it 
would  never  have  been  thought  of. 

The  orders  of  Colonel  Dahlgren  to  his  column 
were  in  accordance  with  this  purpose :  the  prisons 
were  also  to  be  destroyed,  and  all  public  property, 
and  stores  of  a  military  character.  If  prisoners 
were  taken,  they  were  to  be  well  guarded,  but  not 
ill  treated,  and  no  life  was  to  be  taken  except  in 
conflict. 

It  is  certain,  from  the  testimony  of  a  competent 
living  witness,  that  such  were  the  orders,  and  the 
only  orders,  given  to  him  by  Colonel  Dahlgren,  or 
that  he  heard  given  to  others;  and  as  the  duties  of 
this  officer  were  confidential,  and  kept  him  near  the 
colonel  until  his  death,  his  evidence  is  conclusive 
in  the  matter. 

It  is  not  to  be  supposed  that  the  execution  of  the 
project  would  be  unattended  with  more  or  less 
danger  to  the  lives  and  property  of  the  people  and 
their  families. 

The  prisons  in  which  our  men  were  huddled  had 
been  located  within  the  limits  of  the  city,  and  to 
burst  open  the  doors  of  their  dungeons  would  have 
been  to  strike  but  the  first  blow  for  their  liberty ; 
for,  though  numbering  thousands,  they  were  un 
armed  in  the  midst  of  the  best  army  of  rebeldom, 


MINE   UNDER  LIB  BY  PRISON.          237 

and  far  away  from  the  nearest  Union  lines.  It  was 
but  reasonable  to  suppose  that  instant  and  per 
sistent  efforts  would  be  made  to  recapture  them, 
regardless  of  the  destruction  that  might  ensue ;  and 
it  was  certain  that  our  men,  already  driven  to  des 
peration  by  the  most  iniquitous  treatment,  would 
resist  to  the  death,  rather  than  return  to  the  horrid 
dungeons  from  which  they  had  just  escaped. 

The  character  of  such  a  struggle  can  hardly  be 
conceived.  What  the  rebel  authorities  had  deter 
mined  upon  in  such  a  contingency,  was  well  under 
stood  to  be  the  instant  and  wholesale  extermination 
of  all  these  captives, — blowing  up  them  and  their 
prisons  by  mines  placed  for  the  purpose.  It  is  hard 
to  imagine  that  the  intent  to  commit  such  a  mas 
sacre  would  be  admitted,  but  the  committee  of  the 
rebel  Congress  had  the  hardihood  to  avow  and  to 
justify  it : 

"  Your  committee  proceed  next  to  notice  the 
allegation,  that  the  Confederate  authorities  had  pre 
pared  a  mine  under  the  Libby  Prison,  and  placed 
in  it  a  quantity  of  gunpowder,  for  the  purpose  of 
blowing  up  the  buildings  with  their  inmates,  in  case 
of  an  attempt  to  rescue  them. 

"  A  mine  was  prepared  under  the  Libby  Prison, 
a  sufficient  quantity  of  gunpowder  was  put  into  it, 
and  pains  was  taken  to  inform  the  prisoners  that 
any  attempt  at  escape  made  by  them  would  be 
effectually  defeated.  The  plan  succeeded  perfectly. 


238  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

The  prisoners  were  awed  and  kept  quiet.    Dahlgren 
and  his  party  were  defeated  and  scattered,"  etc.* 

Who  shall  be  held  answerable  for  such  atrocity, — 
the  comrades  of  these  unfortunate  men,  who  only 
sought  to  rescue  them,  or  they  who,  violating  every 
instinct  of  humanity  and  the  law  by  which  war 
seeks  to  restrain  its  own  terrors,  degraded  the  high 
place  of  their  power  into  a  city  of  dungeons,  and 
there  accumulated  upon  their  prisoners  horrors 
equaled  only  by  the  protracted  agonies  of  the  stake? 

Even  if  the  treatment  of  our  men  had  been  in 
all  respects  conformable  to  usage,  there  was  no 
necessity  for  placing  them  in  the  midst  of  a  city, 
where  their  liberation  might  be  effected  by  our  mili 
tary  operations  at  any  time,  and  subject  unarmed 
people  and  their  property  to  danger. 

The  Union  government  only  performed  a  bounden 
duty  when  it  took  measures  to  release  its  soldiers 
from  such  a  captivity,  irrespective  of  all  conse 
quences  to  those  whose  misfortune  or  fault  it  was 
to  be  near.  The  flames  which  would  have  consumed 
those  infamous  dungeons  might  have  extended  to 
the  neighboring  dwellings;  but  would  they  have 
been  as  destructive  as  the  explosion  of  the  mines 
that  was  to  send  thousands  of  the  captive  soldiers 
to  their  last  account  at  a  single  blow?  Doubtless, 
too,  in  the  hot  haste  of  the  fray,  it  would  have  been 

*  Washington  Evening  Star,  March  31,  1865. 


THE  BURNING    OF  RICHMOND.         239 

impossible  for  our  men  to  strike  just  where  they 
should,  at  the  moment  when  every  effort  was  being 
made  to  destroy  them,  or  to  return  them  to  prison. 

The  guilt  of  these  deplorable  consequences,  as 
well  as  of  the  original  offense,  would  have  belonged 
to  the  rebel  authorities  who  ordered  or  tolerated 
such  enormities. 

How  far  they  were  sincere  in  the  indignation 
which  they  professed,  at  the  possible  results  to  the 
city  of  an  attempt  to  rescue  the  prisoners,  may  be 
judged  from  the  unhesitating  application  of  the 
torch,  by  their  orders  (when  our  troops  were  about 
to  enter,  a  year  later),  to  some  paltry  stores  which 
they  wished  to  prevent  falling  into  our  hands. 

The  historian  thus  tells  the  tale  :* 

"At  the  same  time  the  Union  force  on  the  lines 
confronting  Richmond  from  the  north  side  of  the 
James  was  startled  by  a  clamorous  uproar,  and  the 
sky  was  seen  to  be  lit  up  with  a  lurid  glare. 

"  But  the  Confederate  officials,  in  addition  to  this 
work  of  destruction  f  (which  cannot  be  condemned 
on  the  score  that  it  was  not  warranted  by  the  rules 
of  war),  adopted  a  measure  shocking  to  every  sense 
of  humanity.  It  appears  that  the  warehouses  of 
Richmond  contained  great  store  of  government 
tobacco,  and  the  cruel  and  senseless  order  was 


*  Swinton,  607. 

f  The  blowing  up  of  their  iron-dads. 


240 


ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 


given  to  fire  these,  as  though  it  were  possible  with 
impunity  to  play  with  the  devouring  element ;  the 
flames  spreading  to  the  neighboring  buildings  soon 
involved  a  wide  and  widening  area ;  and,  though 
the  Union  force  on  its  entry  labored  to  put  out  the 
fire,  it  could  not  be  subdued  until  the  heart  of  the 
city,  including  all  the  business  section,  was  laid  in 
ashes.  It  was  amid  such  scenes  that  Richmond 
fell,  with  the  smoke  of  the  torment  of  the  Confed 
eracy  ascending  to  heaven,  while,  far  away,  all  that 
remained  of  the  Confederate  army  hastened  beyond 
the  sunset." 

The  mischief  did  not  stop  here,  but,  as  if  retribu 
tive  justice  designed  that  the  last  blow  at  the  rebel 
lion  should  come  from  its  own  leaders,  it  extended 
further,  and  trod  out  the  last  hope  of  the  able  leader 
of  their  armies. 

According  to  the  historian,* 

"When  Lee  determined  to  abandon  Petersburg 
and  Richmond,  he  dispatched  orders  that  large 
supplies  of  commissary  and  quartermaster's  stores 
should  be  sent  forward  from  Danville  to  Amelia 
Court  House,  there  to  await  the  arrival  of  his 
columns.  When,  however,  on  Sunday  afternoon, 
the  loaded  train  of  cars  reached  Amelia  Court 
House,  the  officer  in  charge  was  met  by  an  order 
from  the  Richmond  authorities  to  bring  on  the 

*  Swinton,  608. 


RICHMOND  A   FORTIFIED  PLACE. 


241 


train  to  Richmond,  it  being  the  design  to  use  the 
cars  in  the  transportation  of  the  personal  and  other 
property  of  the  Confederate  government.  Interpret 
ing  this  order  in  the  sense  that  the  train  and  its 
contents  should  be  taken  to  Richmond,  the  officer, 
without  unloading  the  stores  at  Amelia  Court 
House,  carried  on  cars,  freight  and  all;  and  the 
rations  on  which  Lee  had  depended  for  the  sub 
sistence  of  his  army  were  consumed  in  the  general 
conflagration  of  Richmond. 

"Such  were  the  agonizing  tidings  that  met  the 
Confederate  commander  on  his  arrival  at  Amelia 
Court  House,  and  one  can  well  imagine  how,  from 
that  moment,  all  his  hopes  were  dashed  to  the 
ground." 

A  few  days  afterwards,  Lee  surrendered. 

But  besides  the  dangers  to  which  the  rebel 
authorities  had  exposed  Richmond,  by  placing  the 
prisons  within  its  precincts,  they  had  invited  to 
it  the  most  strenuous  efforts  of  our  military  opera 
tions,  by  divesting  it  entirely  of  the  character  of 
a  peaceful  city,  and  making  it  the  very  center  of 
their  power,  political  and  military.  Here  was  their 
general  government  itself,  with  all  its  machinery, 
executive  and  legislative,  the  grand  army  upon 
which  rested  their  every  hope,  with  the  immense 
supplies  required  for  its  support,  and  the  principal 
cannon  foundry,  from  which  issued  the  ordnance 
21 


242  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

that  lined  the  parapets  of  the  works  scattered  over 
the  Southern  country. 

Richmond  was  at  once  a  capital,  a  camp,  and  an 
arsenal,  the  heart  and  the  bulwark  of  the  rebellion ; 
upon  the  possession  of  which  depended  its  exist 
ence.  Towards  it  had  been  urged  the  steps  of  our 
main  army,  in  every  campaign,  for  four  years, — from 
the  beginning  to  the  end, — under  McDowell,  Mc- 
Clellan,  Burnside,  Hooker,  Meade,  and  Grant. 
While  Richmond  stood,  the  rebellion  was  erect; 
and  its  last  hope  was  not  extinguished  until  the 
flag  of  the  Union  waved  over  that  stronghold. 

For  these  reasons  the  citizens  and  their  families 
should  have  been  removed  from  the  place  ;  for  so 
long  as  they  remained  there  they  were  unavoidably 
exposed  to  the  same  perils  as  the  armed  force  that 
defended  the  city.  The  roads  were  entirely  open 
to  them  at  all  times ;  their  presence  could  not  be 
permitted  to  ward  off  the  blow  of  war  in  any  shape, 
— if  they  would  remain,  the  blame  and  the  conse 
quences  descended  on  them.  They  did  remain,  and 
did  suffer,  but  not  at  the  hands  of  Union  soldiers ; 
their  own  authorities  gave  Richmond  to  the  flames. 

As  to  the  personal  risk  to  which  the  leaders  of 
the  rebellion  might  be  liable,  in  the  event  of  our 
cavalry  having  been  able  to  effect  an  entrance  into 
Richmond  and  liberate  the  Union  soldiers,  it  is  not 
to  be  considered  for  a  moment. 


HIS  AIM— TO  RESCUE  PRISONERS.      243 

By  the  ordinary  rules  of  war,  they  were  not  ex 
empt  from  any  danger  to  which  the  meanest  soldier 
who  followed  them  was  exposed.  It  would  be 
puerile  to  enter  upon  an  argument  to  establish  this, 
for,  by  the  first  principle  on  which  war  proceeds, 
all  engaged  in  battle  are  liable  to  be  slain,  so  long 
as  resistance  is  continued  ;  and  it  was  worse  than 
puerile  for  the  head  of  the  rebellion  and  his  coun 
selors,  guarded  by  an  army  of  one  hundred  thousand 
men,  to  denounce  attempts  to  slay  or  capture  them 
as  public  enemies  by  a  handful  of  daring  men. 

The  purpose  of  Ulric  Dahlgren  had  a  far  more 
exalted  aim  than  their  death  or  capture;  and  yet, 
even  if  the  object  of  the  enterprise  had  been  to 
attack  the  leaders  in  the  very  stronghold  of  their 
power,  it  would  have  been  in  accordance  with  the 
rules  of  war. 

History  tells  us  that  when  the  Spartan  king  found 
he  could  no  longer  defend  the  mountain-pass,  where 
he  had  placed  himself  to  stay  the  march  of  the 
Persian  host,  he  took  advantage  of  the  night  to 
enter  the  camp  of  the  enemy  at  the  head  of  a  chosen 
band  of  six  hundred  men,  intending  to  kill  the 
king ;  he  perished  in  the  attempt,  with  all  his  men, 
and  his  dead  body  was  visited  with  every  indignity 
by  an  affrighted  and  cruel  enemy,  on  the  ground  that 
such  purpose  was  not  justified  by  the  rules  of  war. 

It  no  doubt  suited  the  rebel  leaders  to  invest  their 
persons  with  an  additional  safeguard,  by  bringing 


244 


ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 


reproach  on  the  daring  gallantry  of  their  antagonist ; 
but  the  distinguished  jurist  Vattel,  acknowledged 
as  high  authority  by  all  nations,  takes  very  different 
ground  upon  the  question.  He  says  of  these  Spar 
tans,  "  Their  expedition  was  according  to  the  com 
mon  rules  of  war.  And  the  king  could  not  treat 
them  more  rigorously  than  other  enemies.  A  strict 
watch  baffles  such  irruption,"  etc.  (Page  534-) 

Colonel  Dahlgren  and  his  five  hundred  would, 
therefore,  have  been  justified  by  the  laws  of  war  in 
slaying  the  rebel  leaders  in  their  camp,  just  as  the 
Spartan  king  and  his  six  hundred  have  been  justified 
in  their  effort  to  slay  the  Persian  monarch.  And 
why  should  they  shrink  from  the  dangers  of  their 
position  more  than  from  its  honors  ?  Where  is  the 
place  of  a  leader,  if  not  in  the  foremost  ranks  ?  It 
was  there,  at  the  head  of  his  men,  that  the  bullets 
of  the  midnight  ambush  found  Ulric  Dahlgren,  and 
where  he  had  placed  himself  fully  prepared  to  abide 
whatever  fate  the  perils  of  the  conflict  might  bring. 
The  last  words  ever  penned  by  his  noble  hand 
recognized  the  dangers  of  the  undertaking,  without 
moving  his  resolution  to  face  them.  He  declared 
there  was  no  better  place  to  die.  And,  doubtless,  the 
same  sentiment  animated  his  gallant  heart  up  to 
the  moment  when  it  ceased  to  throb  forever. 

What  a  contrast  to  the  pitiful  cry  raised  by  the 
high  ones  of  rebeldom,  at  the  bare  idea  of  risk  to 
their  own  precious  persons ! 


HE  IS   JUSTIFIED  BY  LAWS   OF    WAR.     245 

Would  it  not  have  been  immeasurably  better  for 
the  insurgent  chief  himself  to  have  struck  a  manly 
blow  in  his  own  defense,  and  have  died  by  the 
sabers  of  our  Union  soldiers,  rather  than  to  close 
his  career,  flying  ignobly  from  the  horrible  Gol 
gotha  where  he  had  reigned  so  long,  proclaimed 
as  a  felon,  with  a  price  on  his  head,  and  finally  to 
have  been  captured  as  he  was  ? 

Was  he  less  a  felon  in  March,  1864,  when  our 
little  band  appeared  before  his  citadel,  than  after 
wards  when  in  his  cell,  and  liable  to  answer  with 
life  for  his  share  in  the  rebellion  ? 

If,  then,  the  leaders  of  a  hostile  force,  engaged 
in  rightful  war,  could  plead  no  immunity  from  bul 
let  or  bayonet  more  than  their  humblest  followers, 
and  no  security  from  being  surprised  and  slain  in 
their  camps  save  the  vigilance  of  a  sufficient  guard, 
by  what  standard  shall  be  measured  the  privileges 
of  the  heads  of  a  rebellion  under  similar  circum 
stances  ? 

The  United  States  conducted  the  war  for  the 
suppression  of  the  insurrection  according  to  the 
customary  rules,  from  a  regard  to  what  was  merely 
humane ;  but  this  was  no  more  than  a  temporary 
concession, — the  postponement  of  a  right  to  inflict 
condign  punishment,  according  to  the  responsi 
bilities  of  the  several  actors,  to  be  resumed  when 
ever  circumstances  should  permit  due  enforcement. 

Well  might  those  who  stood  in  the  front  of  the 
21* 


246  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

rebellion  ponder,  often  and  seriously,  upon  the 
heavy  accountability  they  had  incurred  by  insti 
gating  and  precipitating  this  terrible  civil  war. 
Never  had  such  an  extreme  resort  been  less  justi 
fied  by  the  acts  or  intentions  of  the  existing  gov 
ernment,  or  by  the  objects  which  the  insurrection 
proposed  to  effect  by  dissolving  the  Union. 

Under  its  banner  the  States  had  attained  a 
measure  of  prosperity,  and  enjoyed  a  degree  of 
freedom,  unexampled  in  all  the  previous  history  of 
mankind.  The  South  not  only  shared  fully  in 
these  results,  but,  by  reason  of  influences  due  to  its 
peculiar  institution,  possessed  a  controlling  power 
in  the  general  government.  To  the  date  of  seces 
sion,  the  several  Presidents  had  been  either  from 
the  South,  or  opposed  to  any  proposition  likely  to 
affect  slavery.  The  voice  of  abolition  was  scarcely 
heard  in  Congress,  and  was  unrepresented  in  the 
judiciary,  or  any  branch  of  the  executive.  Though 
the  new  President  was  opposed  to  the  principles  of 
slavery,  he  was  equally  adverse  to  any  interference 
with  the  guarantees  of  the  Constitution,  and,  at 
all  events,  would  have  been  controlled  by  the  ma 
jority  in  Congress,  which,  with  the  judiciary,  was 
unchanged  in  its  views  of  slavery.  These  im 
portant  facts  had  been  impressed  fully  on  the  South 
by  some  few  of  their  prominent  men  (and  particu 
larly  by  Mr.  A.  H.  Stephens),  who  were  not  yet 
absolutely  insane  with  passion  or  apprehension. 


SECESSION  NA  TIONAL  SUICIDE.        247 

But  it  was  in  vain  to  attempt  to  stay  the  madness 
of  the  hour.  The  only  remedy  it  looked  to  was 
secession,  which,  in  principle,  was  essentially  equiva 
lent  to  severing  not  only  the  bond  of  the  National 
Union,  but  of  all  political  union  whatever.  Once 
admitted,  State  might  secede  from  State,  and  county 
from  county,  until  society  was  resolved  into  the 
original  elements  of  individual  strength  and  force. 
It  meant  political  chaos,  civil  war,  foreign  interven 
tion,  perhaps  even  foreign  domination.  Before  its 
baneful  influence  would  fade  the  great  Western  star 
of  equal  rights,  under  whose  benignant  rays  was 
rising  the  greatest  empire  of  self-government  that 
the  world  had  ever  seen.  In  a  word,  SECESSION 
was  division  and  misrule,  national  suicide,  and,  if 
once  entered  upon,  could  only  be  restrained  by 
despotic  power. 

By  the  rebellion,  slavery,  with  the  lash  and  the 
fetter,  was  to  be  perpetuated, — curse  alike  to  master 
and  man ;  it  was  the  greatest  crime  against  humanity 
enforced  by  war,  the  greatest  crime  against  civiliza 
tion,  and,  as  such,  had  not  the  least  claim  to  coun 
tenance  from  any  law,  or  sympathy  from  living 
being. 

The  purpose  of  secession  was  not  only  to  pull 
down  the  best  and  set  up  the  worst  form  of  gov 
ernment,  but  that  purpose  was  carried  out  with 
every  species  of  aggravation  and  insult.  The  forts, 
arsenals,  navy  yards,  post-offices,  and  treasure  of 


248  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

the  United  States  were  seized  without  scruple, 
while  the  government  looked  on  as  meekly  as  if  it 
acquiesced, — President  Buchanan  declaring  that  he 
had  no  right  to  resort  to  coercion.  As  if  deter 
mined  to  degrade  as  well  as  to  destroy,  Sumter  was 
attacked  and  captured. 

Only  then  did  the  lawful  government  begin  to 
enforce  its  just  authority,  but  to  the  least  possible 
extent.  President  Lincoln  summoned  troops,  not 
to  coerce  the  seceding  States,  but  solely  to  recover 
the  United  States  property  that  had  been  seized. 
That  moderate  measure  was  sufficient,  however,  to 
disclose  the  desperate  and  uncompromising  pur 
poses,  as  well  as  the  stupendous  preparation,  of  the 
rebellion.  The  leaders  appealed  to  the  sword  for 
decision,  and  by  nothing  else  would  they  abide. 

Having  thus,  without  reason  or  pretext,  defied 
lawful  authority  and  initiated  war,  as  if  to  close 
the  door  to  the  least  effort  at  reconciliation,  the 
leaders  prosecuted  their  resistance  with  a  ferocity 
and  contempt  of  the  laws  of  war  which  has  no  par 
allel.  Sometimes  our  men  were  butchered  after 
surrender,  as  at  Fort  Pillow ;  prisoners  were  penned 
by  thousands,  until  they  melted  away  faster  than 
on  the  battle-field ;  and  Libby,  Andersonville,  and 
other  places  became  infamous.  If  they  escaped 
from  such  cruelty,  the  bloodhound  was  loosed  on 
their  track.  Our  officers  were  purposely  confined 
under  the  fire  of  our  own  guns,  and  the  body  of  one, 


REBELS   VIOLATE  RULES  OF   WAR.     249 

who  had  been  mortally  wounded  in  battle,  was  dug 
up  and  cast  from  the  cemetery  where  it  had  been 
interred.  Mines  were  placed  under  the  prisons  of 
Richmond,  by  which  unarmed  captives  were  to  be 
hurled  into  eternity  by  thousands  in  an  instant. 

Finally,  when  no  hope  of  success  remained,  the 
leaders  madly  rejected  all  offers  of  accommodation, 
and  prolonged  the  contest  until  every  resource 
which  they  could  command  was  exhausted,  and 
until  fire  and  sword  had  devastated  their  country, 
— themselves  kindling  the  flames  which  laid  in 
ashes  most  of  their  own  capital. 

Thus  treason  was  followed  by  ferocious  violation 
of  the  rules  of  war,  and  by  outraging  every  instinct 
of  humanity,  until  woe  and  death  rested,  like  a  pall, 
over  the  whole  land. 

Who  can  deny  to  the  perpetration  of  such  enor 
mities  the  verdict  of  the  ordinary  law,  thus  defined 
by  high  authority  ? — 

"  All  the  right  of  a  power  to  make  war  is  derived 
from  the  justice  of  his  cause.  Whoever,  therefore, 
takes  arms  without  a  lawful  cause,  can  absolutely 
have  no  kind  of  right ;  all  the  hostilities  he  com 
mits  are  unjust. 

"He  is  chargeable  with  all  the  evils,  all  the 
horrors,  of  the  war ;  all  the  effusion  of  blood,  the 
desolation  of  families,  the  rapine,  the  violences,  the 
ravages,  the  burnings,  are  his  works  and  his  crimes. 
He  is  guilty  towards  the  enemy  of  attacking,  op- 


250  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

pressing,  massacring  them  without  cause ;  guilty 
towards  his  people  of  drawing  them  into  acts  of 
injustice,  exposing  their  lives  without  necessity, 
without  reason.  Lastly,  he  is  guilty  towards  all 
mankind  of  disturbing  their  quiet  and  setting  a  per 
nicious  example.  Shocking  catalogue  of  miseries 
and  crimes!"  (Vattel,  561.) 

Well  might  the  instigators  and  leaders  of  the 
rebellion  quail  before  such  an  accountability ;  they 
had  taken  their  lives  in  their  hands  when  they  ap 
pealed  to  the  sword,  and  by  that  decision  must 
abide.  And  yet,  at  the  first  glimpse  of  danger  near 
their  own  high  place,  their  outcry  rang  far  and  wide. 
Though  encompassed  by  all  their  power,  they  be 
trayed  the  agony  of  their  fear  by  savagely  spurning 
the  gallant  dead. 

And  what  reproach  could  justly  be  laid  upon 
the  famished  and  maddened  captives  of  Libby 
when  they  sallied  from  its  cells  and  met  their 
oppressors, — eager  to  slay  or  to  fetter  them  again, 
— if  they  smote  right  and  left  regardless  of  all  but 
escape  ? 

The  laivs  of  war  are  for  those  who  regard  them. 

The  fair  fame  of  the  youthful  soldier  cannot  be 
dimmed  by  aught  that  his  inhuman  butchers  can 
urge,  more  than  the  frail  tenement,  which  his  noble 
spirit  once  animated,  could  feel  the  indignities 
which  they  visited  upon  it.  The  horrors  which 


HIS  FAME   CANNOT  BE  DIMMED. 


251 


surrounded  his  fall  will  not  be  forgotten,  and  will 
always  disgrace  alike  the  perpetrators  and  those 
who  sanctioned  such  atrocity.  The  midnight  am 
bush  of  the  abject  villains,  who  feared  to  face  him 
and  his  exhausted  followers  in  open  day,  the  pil 
lage  of  the  dead  body,  even  to  the  last  thread  that 
decency  demanded, — mere  low  theft,  such  as  a 
street-burglar  would  blush  at, — the  savage  and 
wanton  mutilation  of  the  hand,  in  order  to  secure 
a  small  ring,  the  forgery,  the  desecration  of  the 
grave,  and  the  exposure  of  the  body  to  the  gaze  of 
a  mob,  the  attempt  to  conceal  it  in  a  nameless 
grave,  all  betray  the  instincts  of  violent  and  brutish 
natures  ;  and  were  appropriately  followed  by  efforts 
of  the  murderers  to  obtain  the  price  of  blood  from 
the  parent  of  their  victim,  by  offering  for  sale  some 
of  the  articles  which  they  had  so  shamefully  stolen 
from  a  dead  body. 

Contrast  the  high  and  holy  purpose  of  the  Union 
soldier,  his  devotion  to  itfeven  to  death ;  his  calm, 
undaunted  courage,  graced  by  every  milder  virtue; 
his  kind  hospitality  to  the  captive  rebel  officers ; 
contrast  these  with  the  craven  cowardice  of  the 
ruffians  who  beset  him,  their  brutal  treatment  of 
his  body,  and,  worse  than  these,  the  crimes  of  the 
higher  so-called  chivalry,  who  made  war  on  the 
dead  as  only  such  could  wage,  and  say  if  it  were 
not  happier  to  die,  as  did  Ulric  Dahlgren,  so  true, 
so  gentle,  and  so  brave,  than  to  live,  as  do  those 


252  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

who,  having  outraged  his  grave  and  his  name,  now 
stand  before  the  law,  suitors  for  mercy? 

By  loyal  men  and  by  the  friends  of  freedom  and 
humanity,  Ulric  Dahlgren  will  be  remembered,  as  a 
faithful  and  fearless  champion  of  right  and  of  his 
country,  and  as  a  victim  to  his  sympathy  for  op 
pressed  captives,  to  rescue  whom  he  put  aside  all 
thought  for  life,  liberty,  and  name. 

That  he  ever  intended  to  add  one  pang  to  the 
inevitable  evils  that  might  attend  such  an  enterprise 
is  not  borne  out  by  any  evidence,  and  is  contra 
dicted  by  the  false  signature,  and  by  the  tenor  of  a 
whole  life. 

On  the  other  hand,  they  who  ruthlessly  held  our 
captive  soldiers  in  savage  bonds,  and  in  cold  blood 
destined  them  to  a  sudden  and  common  death  if 
they  attempted  to  escape,  justified  by  such  iniqui 
tous  deeds  any  penalty  that  might  befall  them. 

Ulric  Dahlgren  was  twenty-one  years  and  eleven 
months  of  age  when  he  closed  his  bright  career. 

He  was  tall  and  graceful  in  movement;  his 
well-knit  frame  gave  promise  of  more  than  usual 
strength,  but  lacked  the  development  of  matured 
manhood,  and  was  divested  of  all  spare  flesh  by  a 
life  of  constant  exertion. 

His  mind  was  of  no  common  order,  and  had  been 
carefully  trained.  He  was  well  read  in  the  classics, 
a  good  mathematician,  and  expert  with  the  pencil. 


TRAITS   OF  CHARACTER. 


253 


Having-  passed  so  much  leisure  in  the  naval 
ordnance  department,  he  had  a  rare  knowledge  of 
artillery  and  its  use,  which  he  often  turned  to  good 
account*  on  the  field  of  battle. 

He  delighted  in  all  manly  exercises,  was  per 
fectly  at  ease  in  the  water,  and,  as  a  horseman,  was 
unsurpassed, — a  bold,  practiced,  and  elegant  rider. 

In  action,  his  discernment  of  objects  and  con 
ception  were  almost  instant;  in  judgment  deliber 
ate,  but  in  execution  rapid  as  lightning,  with  which 
he  united  courage  so  clear  and  unshaken  as  to 
permit  his  faculties  the  most  undisturbed  exercise 
under  any  circumstances.  He  never  seemed  to  be 
conscious  of  the  least  danger  to  himself,  and  the 
only  visible  effect  on  him  of  its  presence  were  the 
slightly-compressed  lip  and  the  sparkle  of  the  eye. 
His  personal  bearing,  at  such  a  time,  is  well  de 
scribed  by  Captain  Mitchell,  who  speaks  of  him, 
and  of  the  impression  the  colonel  made  upon  him, 
when  he  rode  along  the  front  of  his  column,  then 
near  Richmond,  under  a  heavy  fire  and  about  to 
charge  the  enemy's  infantry. 

To  the  casual  observer  he  appeared  like  a  very 
young  and  rather  diffident  man,  gentle  and  unob 
trusive,  a  moderate  talker,  and  always  of  pleasant 
mood.  But  beneath,  lay  a  character  of  the  firmest 

*  General  Sigel  says,  "  I  gave  him  charge  of  the  ordnance  de 
partment,  which  duties  he  fulfilled  with  great  energy  and  ability." 
22 


254 


ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 


mould,  a  constancy  of  purpose  never  to  be  diverted 
from  its  object,  intrepidity  not  to  be  disturbed  by 
any  emergency,  impulses  of  the  purest  nature  habit 
ually  in  exercise,  all  producing  a  course  of  life  un 
blemished  by  the  least  meanness.  Loyal  to  every 
obligation,  he  was,  therefore,  a  good  son,  and  never 
failed  in  the  most  respectful  obedience  to  his  parent. 
A  warm  and  sincere  friend,  he  was  true  through 
good  and  ill  report ;  devoted  to  the  honored  cause 
of  his  country,  he  never  heeded  toil  or  danger 
where  his  service  was  needed. 

To  these  qualities  he  added  a  deep  sense  of  re 
ligious  obligation,  chiefly  due  to  the  precepts  and 
example  of  his  departed  mother;  but  in  this,  as  in 
other  respects,  he  was  not  demonstrative.  When 
lying  wounded,  and  seemingly  near  the  verge  of 
death,  he  was  reminded  of  the  danger  which  he  did 
not  appear  to  be  aware  of.  Smiling  feebly,  he  re 
plied  that  he  knew  it,  and  added  that  he  had  never 
gone  into  battle  without  asking  forgiveness  for  his 
sins  and  commending  his  soul  to  his  Maker. 

Such  was  the  even  tenor  of  his  life,  not  flashing 
out  at  intervals,  but  giving  forth  its  steady  light 
without  intermission  through  all  its  brief  term. 

The  stamp  of  official  recognition  is  thus  declared 
by  high  authority : 


LETTER    OF  SECRETARY  STANTON. 


255 


"WASHINGTON,  July  24,   1863. 

"DEAR  SIR, — Inclosed  you  have  a  commission 
for  colonel,  without  having  passed  through  the 
intermediate  grade  of  major.  Your  gallant  and 
meritorious  service  has,  I  think,  entitled  you  to  this 
distinction,  although  it  is  a  departure  from  general 
usage  which  is  only  justified  by  distinguished  merit 
such  as  yours.  I  hope  you  may  speedily  recover, 
and  it  will  rejoice  me  to  be  the  instrument  of  your 
further  advancement  in  the  service. 

"  With  great  respect,  I  am  yours  truly, 

"EowiN  M.  STANTON. 
"  COLONEL  ULRIC  DAHLGREN." 

General  Sigel,  with  whom  he  served  for  a  year, 
writes  thus : 

"  I  cannot  in  this  short  memorandum  do  him  jus 
tice,  but  will  always  remember  him  as  one  of  the 
most  noble,  most  faithful,  and  most  valorous  sol 
diers  of  the  republic;  as  one  who  was  equally  'ex 
celsior'  by  his  manly  virtues  as  by  his  intelligence 
and  ability.  His  premature  death  struck  deeply 
into  my  heart,  where  he  will  be  treasured  forever." 

The  testimonials  and  regrets,  that  reached  his 
father  from  every  direction  when  his  tragic  end  be 
came  known,  showed  how  widely  and  deeply  his 
virtues  and  his  patriotism  were  appreciated. 

In  the  perilous  events  that  gathered  about  the 
closing  hours  of  life,  it  has  been  seen  from  the  ex- 


256 


ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 


tracts  of  a  letter,  by  one  of  his  officers,*  how  he 
appeared  to  those  around  him. 

The  thoughts  that  filled  the  heart  and  mind  of 
the  young  chief,  and  his  fearless  view  of  possible 
results,  are  exhibited  in  the  last  letter  to  his  father,f 
penned,  no  doubt,  in  the  solitude  of  his  tent,  during 
the  silent  hours  of  the  night,  just  as  he  was  about 
to  start  upon  the  final  enterprise  of  his  glorious  life. 
Almost  face  to  face  with  death,  his  last  words  were, 
"Ifwe  do  not  return,  there  is  no  better  place  to  'give 
up  the  ghost' " 

One  of  the  finest  tributes  ever  given  in  any  lan 
guage  to  departed  worth,  thus  sums  up  in  a  few 
words  the  character  and  aspirations  of  this  son  of 
a  free  land : 

"COLONEL  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

"From  time  to  time  during  this  war  there  have 
been  deaths  in  battle  which  have  gone  to  the  hearts 
of  loyal  millions  as  personal  griefs,  and  which  have 
carried  a  private  sorrow  into  many  households 
which  the  martyrs  had  never  entered.  Such  were 
the  deaths  of  ELLSWORTH,  of  WINTHROP,  of  SHAW, 
each,  for  a  different  reason,  claiming  sympathy  and 
regret.  Such  is  the  death  of  ULRIC  DAHLGREN, 
murdered  week  before  last  on  the  Peninsula,  after 

*  Captain  Mitchell. 
•}•  Already  given,  page  211,  chapter  xi. 


AN  ELOQUENT   TRIBUTE. 

he  had  fou glit  his  way  through  the  forces  which 
surrounded  him, — shot  by  a  guerrilla-party  in  am 
bush,  when  he  had  a  right  to  believe  himself  in  safety. 

"  Young  as  he  was — dying  at  twenty-two — his 
military  career  is  crowded  with  events,  and  around 
his  smooth  brow  the  laurel  had  already  clustered 
thickly. 

"'A  man  that  is  young  in  years  may  be  old  in 
hours,'  says  Bacon,  '  if  he  have  lost  no  time ;  but 
that  happeneth  rarely.'  Measured  by  such  a  stand 
ard,  judged  by  what  he  had  done,  and  what  he 
was,  this  boy  was  a  veteran.  He  was  born  a  sol 
dier,  and  his  earliest  service  in  the  field  found  him 
the  same  cool,  wary,  skillful,  indomitable  leader 
which  his  last  months  of  more  conspicuous  action 
showed  him  to  the  country. 

"  He  was  a  man  whom  his  men  trusted,  and 
would  follow.  That  personal  magnetism — the 
chemical  union  of  extraordinary  will  and  power  of 
command  with  winning  and  affectionate  qualities — 
which  is  the  essential  character  of  the  best  leaders 
in  battle,  he  possessed.  Napoleon  said  the  Old 
Guard  would  follow  Ney  farther  than  they  would 
him.  The  irresistible  influence  which  belonged  to 
Ney  belonged  to  DAHLGREN.  There  was  something 
about  him  which  perpetually  recalled  to  mind  the 
historic  traits  and  descriptive  peculiarities  of  men 
famous  in  battle. 

"The  white   plume    of  Navarre  did   not   more 

22* 


258  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

grandly  shine  in  the  front  of  the  hottest  fight,  than 
the  pale,  resolute  face  and  burning  eyes  of  this 
young  captain.  He  scarcely  ever  was  in  an  action 
where  great  odds  were  not  against  him,  yet  never 
was  in  an  action  out  of  which  he  did  not  bring 
fame  for  himself.  He  was  not  rash,  but  he  did  num 
berless  things  which  for  another  to  attempt  would 
have  been  rash.  The  superiority  of  numbers  was 
often  on  the  other  side ;  the  superiority  of  force 
was  always  on  his. 

"  Different  traits  of  his  character  need  equally  to 
be  stated,  before  he  can  be  rightly  understood.  It 
seems  a  rude  act,  almost,  to  uncover  in  public  the 
diffident  grace  and  sweetness  which  made  the 
beauty  of  his  private  life.  The  iron  hand  he  had, 
but  the  glove  of  velvet  was  seldom  drawn  off.  Few 
men  make  themselves  so  loved  as  he  did, — so  loved, 
so  trusted,  so  little  envied,  while  winning  such  large 
honors  as  came  to  him  almost  unsought. 

"  Devoted  to  his  profession  for  its  own  sake, 
bound  to  it  still  more  for  the  sake  of  his  country, 
he  broke  away  from  the  dearest  private  ties,  and 
yet  carried  with  him  into  the  field  the  tenderness 
and  purity  of  character,  which  seemed  inseparable 
from  the  fireside  and  from  home. 

"  It  is  this  young  martyred  hero  whom  the 
Richmond  press,  speaking  for  the  rebel  leaders, 
have  painted  as  a  sort  of  fiend ;  whose  body  they 
mangled  after  death,  and  whose  name  they  have 


AN  ELOQUENT  TRIBUTE.  259 

sought  to   disgrace  with    still    more    horrible  in- 

t>  t> 

suits. 

"  In  passionate  and  cruel  anger  at  an  attack  which 
so  nearly  succeeded,  they  have  threatened  to  mur 
der  every  prisoner  taken,  and  apparently,  in  order 
to  justify  it,  or  to  stimulate  their  ferocity,  they  have 
forged  orders  said  to  have  been  found  on  Colo 
nel  DAHLGREN  for  the  murder  of  Jefferson  Davis 
and  his  Cabinet.  The  prisoners  in  our  hands,  and 
the  known  purpose  of  our  government  to  retaliate 
for  the  barbarous  treatment  of  white  men,  will  pre 
vent  the  execution  of  rebel  threats,  but  will  not 
prevent  them  from  avenging  themselves  on  an 
enemy  in  his  grave, — a  trait  which  they  possess 
and  exhibit  in  common  with  other  savage  and 
treacherous  races.  It  can  do  no  harm  to  the 
memory  of  Colonel  DAHLGREN  ;  and  if  it  did,  we 
may  be  sure  that  he  would  cheerfully  endure  re 
proach,  as  in  his  life  he  endured  hardship  and  pain, 
for  the  service  of  his  country."* 

It  soothes  sharp  regrets  to  feel  that,  short  as  was 
the  allotted  term,  it  was  sufficient  to  give  the  full 
character,  in  all  its  depth  and  beauty,  so  complete 
that  years  would  have  done  no  more.  It  is  truly 
said  that  one  hour  may  make  a  name  and  a  destiny, 
as  well  as  an  age. 

There  must  have  been  no  myth,  but  a  glowing 

*  New  York  Independent. 


260  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

reality  in  such  a  being,  to  call  forth  from  one  ma 
ture  in  age  and  worthily  high  in  a  community's 
esteem,  such  a  burst  as  this : 

"  The  account  of  young  Dahlgren's  death  reads 
like  an  ancient  romance.  How  sad!  how  brilliant! 
how  wonderful !  what  devotion  !  what  intrepidity ! 
what  patriotism  ! 

"  I  recalled  the  appearance  of  the  pale,  maimed 
youth,  who  sat  on  your  piazza  on  the  day  of  the 
funeral ;  when  I  pressed  his  hand,  and  he  mine,  as 
though  we  were  blood  relations,  though  we  had 
never  seen  each  other  before.  How  he  could  have 
gained  strength  to  ride  on  one  of  those  painful, 
exhausting  raids  surpasses  comprehension. 

"  But  there  he  was,  fighting  like  a  hero,  dying 
like  a  martyr,  his  body  stripped  and  insulted,  and 
ignominiously  buried.  His  memory  will  live  when 
we  are  all  dead  and  forgotten. 

"  My  tears  drop  right  down  while  reading  the 
extracts  from  the  Richmond  papers, — tears  of  sor 
row,  of  anger,  of  joy  that  my  country  has  produced 
such  a  noble  youth,  and  that  she  has  more." 

Such  was  the  brave  and  generous  spirit  whose 
light  has  been  so  early  quenched  forever.  That, 
of  itself,  might  have  sufficed  to  sate  the  bitterest 
vengeance.  The  shocking  cruelty  that  has  been 
exhibited  in  the  treatment  of  his  inanimate  body 
will,  in  the  end,  recoil  on  the  infamous-  ruffians  who 
perpetrated  it. 


TRUE  SOLDIER    OF   THE    UNION.       26l 

To  the  gallant  young  soldier  it  has  been  as  no 
thing,  for  he  has  passed  away  to  his  final  account, 
leaving  behind  him  a  name  far  beyond  the  reach 
of  his  enemies.  There  are  those  left,  whose  pride 
and  pleasure  it  will  be  to  vindicate  his  fair  fame, 
and  he  will  be  remembered  as  a  young  patriot  of 
spotless  life  and  purest  purpose  ;  honest,  true,  and 
gentle,  dutiful  to  every  obligation  ;  unselfish  and 
generous  to  a  fault ;  an  undaunted  soldier  of  the 
Union,  who  never  struck  a  blow  except  at  an  armed 
enemy ;  an  accomplished  gentleman,  a  sincere  Chris 
tian,  a  faithful  comrade,  who,  although  not  having 
recovered  from  the  almost  fatal  illness  consequent 
on  losing  a  limb  in  battle,  went  forth  to  brave  every 
hardship,  in  the  hope  of  aiding  to  release  our 
captive  soldiers  from  the  dungeons  of  a  merciless 
enemy,  who,  for  this,  sought  vengeance  on  his 
dead  body  with  the  ferocity  of  savages. 


CHAPTER    XIII. 

CONCLUSION RECOVERY  OF  THE  REMAINS FUNERAL 

DISCOURSES    AND    OBSEQUIES. 

r  I  ^HE  painful  tidings  of  Ulric  Dahlgren's  fate 
J-  came  very  slowly  to  Washington. 

His  father  had  arrived  there  from  his  squadron, 
off  Charleston,  on  the  2d  of  March,  little  conscious 
that  on  the  night  of  that  day  his  beloved  son  was 
closing  his  mortal  career  near  Richmond.  He 
learned  of  his  absence  immediately  on  reaching 
home,  but  felt  no  misgivings  on  the  subject,  except 
as  to  the  capability  of  his  son  to  withstand  the  ex 
posure  of  such  an  expedition,  when  his  health  was 
so  far  from  being  fully  established. 

About  two  days  later,  the  President,  with  his 
characteristic  kindness,  sent  a  few  lines  on  a  card 
to  Admiral  Dahlgren,  saying  that  General  Kilpat- 
rick  was  safe  at  Fortress  Monroe,  but  that  Colonel 
Dahlgren  was  missing ;  and  the  following  day 
(Saturday,  5th)  Mr.  Lincoln  wrote  that  he  was  said 
to  be  a  prisoner. 

These  tidings  naturally  occasioned  great  con 
cern  in  the  family,  which  was  measurably  relieved 
(262) 


RECOVERY  OF   THE  REMAINS.          263 

on  Sunday,  when  the  President  called  at  the  resi 
dence  of  the  admiral,  to  say  that  he  had  just  re 
ceived  a  telegram  from  General  Butler,  at  Fortress 
Monroe,  to  the  effect  that  Ulric  was  not  a  prisoner, 
but  was  at  King-and-Queen  Court  House,  and  that 
he  would  send  some  troops  there  to  bring  him  in. 

This  state  of  suspense  did  not  continue  long. 
The  mournful  certainty  reached  Washington  soon 
after,  and  on  Tuesday  the  President  sent  for  the 
admiral,  in  order  to  disclose  to  him  the  death  of 
his  gallant  son,  tidings  of  which  had  arrived  the 
day  before.  The  bereaved  father  lost  no  time  in 
leaving  on  board  of  the  steamer  that  had  brought 
him  North,  and  still  lay  at  the  Navy  Yard  ready 
for  sea,  which,  without  delay,  carried  him  to  For 
tress  Monroe  by  ten  o'clock  next  day.  He  there 
received  from  General  Butler  copies  of  Richmond 
papers,  containing  the  dreadful  details  already 
given. 

The  general,  taking  a  kindly  interest  in  the  fate 
of  the  young  soldier,  addressed  a  note  to  the 
enemy's  exchange  commissioner,  requesting  that 
his  remains  might  be  delivered  to  his  father. 

General  Kilpatrick,  who  was  also  at  the  fort, 
called  upon  the  admiral,  and,  among  other  state 
ments  in  regard  to  the  expedition,  assured  him  of 
the  falsity  of  the  orders  said  to  have  been  found 
upon  his  son. 

The  Union  papers,  meanwhile,  abounded  with 


264  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

notices  of  the  lamented  martyr,  expressing  sorrow 
for  his  untimely  end,  and  indignation  at  the  con 
duct  of  the  rebel  authorities. 

On  the  23d  of  March,  the  enemy's  commissioner 
sent  word  that  the  only  officer  who  knew  the  place 
of  interment  was  absent,  and  therefore  it  had  been 
impossible  to  comply  with  the  request  for  the  body, 
but  that  this  officer  had  been  sent  for. 

On  the  29th,  the  admiral  again,  and  for  the  fourth 
time,  repaired  to  Fortress  Monroe,  in  order  to 
attend  personally  to  the  reception  of  his  son's  re 
mains,  which  were  expected  in  the  exchange-boat, 
but  he  was  again  doomed  to  bitter  disappointment. 

Arriving  at  home,  an  entire  stranger  called  and 
hinted  at  some  information,  which  he  said  had 
reached  him,  to  the  effect  that  the  remains  of  Colo 
nel  Dahlgren  had  been  found  and  removed  by 
some  friends  to  a  place  of  safety,  but  that  great 
secrecy  was  necessary,  to  avoid  the  search  of  the 
rebel  authorities. 

This  was  confirmed  by  a  telegram  from  General 
Butler,  of  April  1 7th,  stating  the  return  of  the 
exchange-steamer  from  Richmond,  and  that  the 
enemy's  commissioner  had  assured  the  Union  com 
missioner,  "  That  upon  going  to  the  grave  of  Colo 
nel  Dahlgren  it  was  found  empty,  and  that  the 
most  vigorous  and  persistent  search  fails  to  find  it; 
that  the  authorities  are  making  every  exertion  to 
find  the  body,  which  shall  be  restored  if  found." 


FUNERAL   DISCOURSE.  265 

It  being  certain  that  for  the  present  no  recovery 
would  be  possible,  it  was  decided  that  the  address 
which  had  been  prepared  for  the  funeral  service 
should  be  delivered.  This  sad  duty  properly  be 
longed  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Sunderland,  as  the  pastor 
of  the  church  in  which  Ulric  Dahlgren  had  been 
trained,  and  where  it  was  his  custom  to  attend 
when  at  home. 

No  one  could  be  so  well  qualified  for  the  task  as 
this  excellent  divine,  who  had  ever  been  a  fearless 
advocate  of  the  Union  cause,  in  season  and  out  of 
season.  He  had  personally  known  Ulric  Dahlgren 
for  many  years,  having  seen  him  almost  daily  (as 
he  passed  to  the  church  in  the  regular  performance 
of  his  duties),  most  frequently  near  the  paternal 
home,  in  some  boyish  recreation,  or  perhaps  on  the 
way  to  school,  satchel  in  hand.  On  Sundays,  too, 
he  found  the  lad  at  his  place  at  the  Sunday-school, 
and  afterwards,  in  his  father's  pew,  a  quiet  and  at 
tentive  listener.  All  who  know  Dr.  Sunderland, 
are  acquainted  with  the  earnest  enthusiasm  with 
which  he  pursues  his  object,  and  the  brilliant 
powers  of  logic  and  language  with  which  he  is 
gifted,  and  can  well  imagine  the  fervent  feelings 
which  animated  him  when  he  rose  in  the  pulpit 
to  fulfill  his  mission.  The  spacious  church*  was 
crowded  to  its  utmost  capacity,  by  a  sympathizing 

*  First  Presbyterian,  Four-and-a-half  Street. 
23 


266  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

audience  gathered  from  every  class  of  the  com 
munity.  The  reverend  preacher,  aroused  to  his 
greatest  power,  held  the  large  assembly  in  rapt 
attention  for  more  than  two  hours,  in  the  delivery 
of  a  sermon  which,  for  accuracy  of  statement, 
pathos,  and  eloquence,  has  never  been  excelled,  if 
measured  by  the  effect  on  such  numbers  of  clear, 
strong,  earnest,  and  well-educated  minds.  The 
sound  of  the  last  sentence  had  scarcely  died  out 
when  several  gentlemen  rose,  and,  speaking  in  be 
half  of  those  around,  requested  that  the  discourse 
should  be  printed. 

This  was  succeeded  next  day,  in  a  more  formal 
manner,  by  a  written  application,  as  follows  : 

"  WASHINGTON,  D.C.,  April  25,  1864. 

''REV.  BYRON  SUNDERLAND,  D.D. 

"  DEAR  SIR, — We  respectfully  request  that  you 
will  furnish  for  publication  a  copy  of  the  eloquent 
and  patriotic  discourse  on  the  life  and  death  of 
Colonel  Dahlgren,  delivered  last  evening.  We 
wish  to  see  the  noble,  daring,  and  heroic  devotion 
to  the  cause  of  his  country,  which  characterized 
the  brief  but  brilliant  career  of  this  young  soldier, 
held  up  before  the  youth  of  our  country,  that  they 
may  be  stimulated  to  an  honorable  emulation  of 
his  virtues,  and,  if  need  be,  to  a  similar  sacrifice  of 
their  lives.  We  wish  to  honor  his  memory,  by 
publishing  the  story  of  his  deeds  and  his  death, 


FUNERAL   DISCOURSE.  267 

that  it  may  go  down  to  posterity  with  the  record 
of  many  other  noble  young  men  of  our  land,  whose 
lives  have  honored  and  whose  deaths  have  rendered 
doubly  sacred  the  cause  in  which  they  fell,  and  will 
add  to  the  reproach  and  shame  of  all  our  enemies 
and  all  who  sympathize  with  them. 

"  In  thus  presenting  this  request,  we  believe  that 
we  express  the  general  sentiment  of  those  who 
listened  to  your  discourse,  and  the  loyal  people  of 
this  community. 

"  Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servants, 

"  SCHUYLER    COLFAX, 
J.  K.  MOREHEAD, 

D.  MORRIS, 
Z.  D.  OILMAN, 
WM.  H.  CAMPBELL, 
WM.  GUNTON, 
O.  C.  WIGHT, 
MARSHALL  CONANT." 

To  this  request,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Sunderland  made 
the  following  reply : 

"WASHINGTON,  April  26,  1864. 

"To  MESSRS.  SCHUYLER  COLFAX,  J.  K.  MOREHEAD, 

D.  MORRIS,  AND  OTHERS. 

"  GENTLEMEN, — Your  request  of  the  25th  instant, 
so  kindly  expressed,  is  duly  received;  and  in  sub 
mitting  to  your  disposal  a  copy  of  the  discourse 
delivered  by  me,  in  memory  of  the  late  Colonel 


268  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

Dahlgren,  permit  me  to  add,  that  when  our  coun 
trymen  shall  read  the  story  of  this  noble  young 
soldier,  and  the  nation's  heart  shall  thrill  again  on 
every  recollection  of  his  exploits,  I  pray  them  to 
remember  it  is  not  upon  the  ground  of  his  lofty 
patriotism,  but  upon  the  humble  hope  of  his  confi 
dence  in  the  Redeemer  of  the  world,  that  his  pastor 
cherishes  the  conviction  of  his  now  beatified  and 
exalted  estate,  in  the  presence  of  God  and  the  holy 
angels. 

"  Ever  truly,  etc., 

"B.  SUNDERLAND." 

It  is  not  to  be  forgotten  that  the  circumstances 
attending  the  delivery  of  this  address  were  most 
remarkable.  Its  subject  was  personally  known  to 
most  of  those  present,  who  were  the  neighbors  of 
his  family,  and  he  was  generally  known  to  the 
congregation  as  one  of  its  youth.  The  head  of  the 
academy  where  Ulric  Dahlgren  had  been  trained 
for  some  ten  years,  and  who  also  had  been  his  Sun 
day-school  teacher,  was  present,  as  an  elder  of  the 
church,  and  was  one  of  those  who  requested  the 
publication  of  the  sermon.  So  that  there  was  a  mass 
of  living  testimony  to  the  life  and  character  of  the 
gallant  young  soldier,  that  few  have  been  favored 
with.  These  witnesses  could  scan  nearly  the  whole 
of  the  brief  life,  had  been  cognizant  of  it  in  nearly 
every  phase,  and  now  that  it  was  stilled  forever, 


REMOVAL   OF  REMAINS.  269 

they  could,  within  the  sanctuary,  bear  evidence  to 
its  purity,  its  loveliness,  its  fidelity,  courage,  and 
great  promise. 

The  very  words  themselves  came  from  the  lips 
and  the  heart  of  a  speaker,  made  holy,  by  his  de 
voted  zeal  for  religion  and  the  cause  of  his  country, 
and  who  was  himself  a  testimony  to  nearly  all  that 
he  uttered. 

Altogether,  it  was  a  fitting  memorial  to  the 
young  warrior,  and  wheresoever  might  be  laid  the 
frail  tenement  which  his  brave  spirit  once  animated, 
this  gave  imperishable  remembrance  to  him. 

Some  two  days  later,  Admiral  Dahlgren  received 
positive  information  of  the  removal  of  his  son's 
remains  from  Richmond  to  a  spot  unknown  to  the 
rebel  government,  but  still  within  their  lines.  This 
made  it  unadvisable  to  attempt  its  transference 
North,  until  the  flag  of  the  Union  should  wave  over 
the  place. 

He  was  thus  compelled  reluctantly  to  forego,  for 
the  present,  the  melancholy  satisfaction  of  having 
his  son's  remains  properly  interred,  and  felt  obliged 
to  yield  to  the  wishes  of  the  Department,  that  he 
should  resume  his  command  of  the  South  Atlantic 
squadron,  for  which  he  departed  on  the  28th  of 
April,  1864. 

Such  a  character,  and  such  a  career,  so  sadly 
ended,  could  not  fail  to  make  an  impression  on  the 
public  mind  far  beyond  the  limits  of  domestic  life 

23* 


2/0  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

Various  notices  appeared  in  the  public  prints,  in 
prose  and  in  verse.  Sometimes  they  were  ad 
dressed  in  condolence  to  the  father  of  the  gallant 
dead,  and  bear  evidence  of  the  feeling  occasioned 
in  different  parts  of  the  country  by  the  untimely 
end  of  Ulric  Dahlgren. 

Some  of  the  kindly  tributes  have  been  collected, 
and  will  be  found  at  the  close  of  this  narrative. 

The  Volunteer  Howitzer  Company  of  Philadel 
phia,  with  which  Ulric  had  been  associated  before 
the  rebellion,  did  not  forget  their  comrade : 

"  PHILADELPHIA,  March,  1864. 

"ADMIRAL  DAHLGREN. 

"SiR, — At  a  special  meeting  of  the  Dahlgren 
Howitzer  Battery,  Captain  E.  Spencer  Miller  com 
manding,  held  at  the  armory,  No.  808  Market 
Street,  on  Thursday  the  i/th  instant,  the  following 
resolutions  were  read,  and,  on  motion,  unanimously 
adopted : 

"  Whereas,  Our  late  lieutenant,  Ulric  Dahlgren, 
after  severing  his  connection  with  us,  and  entering 
the  active  service  of  his  country,  showed  on  every 
occasion  those  high  qualities  of  courage,  coolness, 
and  warm  patriotism  which  we  so  well  knew  and 
appreciated,  and,  after  gaining  promotion  with  a 
rapidity  which  proved  his  extraordinary  merit,  lately 
lost  his  life  whilst  gallantly  leading  his  men  to  the 
very  gates  of  Richmond,  to  release  our  fellow-citi 
zens  from  rebel  prisons ; 


TRIBUTE    TO  HIS  MEMORY.  2?1 

"  Resolved,  That  in  his  death  the  country  has 
lost  one  of  its  most  promising  officers  and  most 
daring  and  self-denying  patriots. 

"Resolved,  That  not  in  hope  of  adding  to  the 
honor  of  one  whose  glory  is  now  part  of  the  history 
and  treasure  of  his  country,  and  whose  praises  are 
on  every  tongue,  but  to  impress  upon  ourselves  his 
bright  example,  we  make  this  record  to  his  memory. 

"  Resolved,  That  as  COLONEL  ULRIC  DAHLGREN 
had,  from  his  parentage,  ties  to  this  city  and  this 
city  to  him,  our  fellow-citizens  should  not  be  un 
mindful  of  his  memory,  but  should  raise  a  monu 
ment  to  him  more  permanent  than  mere  expres 
sions  of  admiration  and  respect. 

"Resolved,  That  we  will  wear  a  badge  of  mourn 
ing  for  six  months,  and  cause  these  resolutions  to 
be  published,  and  a  copy  thereof  to  be  sent  to  the 
father  of  the  deceased. 

"  Extract  from  the  minutes. 

"  (Signed)          CHAS.  WILLING  HARE, 

"  Chairman  pro  tern. 
"Attest:  E.  S.  CAMPBELL, 

"  Secretary  pro  tern" 

Great  events  were  to  take  place  before  the  out 
raged  remains  of  Ulric  Dahlgren  were  destined  to 
rest  with  those  of  his  family.  Indeed,  the  rebellion 
itself  was  first  to  find  its  grave,  not  with  the  regrets 
of  the  country,  but  "unwept  and  unhonored" 


2/2 


ULRIC  DAHLGRRN. 


The  rescue  of  Ulric  Dahlgrcn's  remains  from  the 
possession  of  the  rebel  authorities  had  scarcely  been 
accomplished,  when  the  leader  of  the  American 
armies,  gathering  together  his  legions,  moved  di 
rectly  for  Richmond.  In  vain  did  the  rebel  general 
place  himself  in  his  path,  and  strive  to  delay  or  avert 
the  fatal  purpose.  GRANT,  steadfastly  keeping  the 
end  in  view,  moved  forward,  never  refusing  battle 
when  offered,  and  never  turning  from  a  chance  to 
strike;  so  that  in  good  season  he  was  at  the  portals 
of  the  city  of  dungeons,  and  there  fixed  a  grip  on 
the  very  throat  of  the  rebellion  that  was  not  to  be 
relaxed  whilst  it  had  life. 

Meanwhile,  glorious  SHERMAN  had  entered  At 
lanta  ;  his  maddened  enemy,  driven  to  hopeless 
despair  by  repeated  defeat,  threw  himself  like  a 
tiger  upon-  the  communications  of  the  Union  army, 
thinking  perhaps  thus  to  shake  the  purpose  of  his 
antagonist. 

"  Quern  Dens  vult  perdere,  prins  dcmentat" 

That  insane  movement  sealed  the  fate  of  secession, 
like  the  crash  of  doom,  just  when  our  impatient 
public  was  verging  to  lack  of  faith  in  the  decree 
of  justice.  Sherman,  with  rapid  glance,  saw  his 
opportunity.  Gathering  all  his  force  and  trains  into 
one  compact  mass,  he  swooped,  like  an  eagle,  for 
the  ocean,  dividing  the  power  of  the  untouched 
States  with  fatal  blow,  for  his  magnificent  concep 
tion  instantly  divined  the  result.  Rebellion  had 


SEAWARD   MARCH  OF  SHERMAN. 


2/3 


ignorantly  placed  its  head  upon  the  block,  and  the 
avenging  sword  fell  like  light. 

That  march  of  Sherman's  will  ever  stand  on  the 
record  with  the  greatest  achievements  of  war. 

Moving  steadily  on,  the  general  came  near  the 
great  sea  early  in  December.  A  single  obstacle  in 
the  way,  in  the  shape  of  a  fort  (McAllister),  was 
brushed  away  by  an  instant  stroke,  and  Sherman, 
with  characteristic  celerity,  stepped  into  a  small 
bateau  and  first  presented  himself  to  the  expectant 
fleet.  On  the  1 4th  of  December,  he  and  Admiral 
Dahlgren  met  in  the  waters  of  Wassaw  Sound,  and 
his  presence  was  greeted  by  the  ships  of  war  with 
every  token  of  welcome, — the  seamen  mounted  the 
rigging  and  cheered,  while  the  great  cannon  thun 
dered  deep  base  to  their  voices. 

The  fall  of  Savannah  followed  quickly,  and  the 
Christmas  of  1864  was  celebrated  in  that  city,  and 
for  the  first  time  in  several  years,  under  the  folds  of 
the  national  banner. 

As  soon  as  the  army  was  sufficiently  recruited 
and  its  supplies  renewed,  Sherman  recommenced 
his  march,  taking  a  line  sufficiently  near  the  coast 
to  sever  the  communications  of  the  enemy's  strong 
holds  seaward.  As  a  consequence,  the  insurgents 
were  compelled  to  abandon  the  seacoast  as  he 
advanced,  being  hemmed  seaward  by  the  fleet, 
and  the  small  body  of  troops  that  had  occupied 
positions  on  the  sea-islands. 


2/4 


ULRIC  DAIILGREN. 


Admiral  Dahlgren  and  General  Schimmelfennig 
entered  Charleston  on  the  i/th  of  February. 

Early  in  April,  Sherman  was  in  communication 
with  Grant,  and  the  enemy's  capital  was  abandoned 
to  its  fate  by  Lee's  army,  which,  soon  after,  was 
also  compelled  to  surrender  to  the  conquerors. 

Thus  ended  the  most  needless  resistance  to  law 
ful  authority  that  has  ever  darkened  the  annals  of 
man,  but  in  its  death-struggle  basely  stole  the  life 
of  the  good  President,  who  had  so  ably  conducted 
the  fortunes  of  the  republic  through  the  terrible 
vicissitudes  of  a  bloody  war. 

The  blood  of  the  martyr  consecrated  the  labor 
of  the  patriot. 

The  tragedy  of  the  rebellion  closed  fittingly  with 
the  work  of  the  assassin. 

Immediately  oh  the  accession  of  peace,  the  re 
mains  of  Ulric  Dahlgren  were  taken  to  Washing 
ton,  from  the  spot  where  they  had  reposed  quietly 
for  a  whole  year,  beneath  the  green  sod  of  the  val 
ley,  far  away  from  the  desecration  of  a  bitter  foe, 
and  only  awaiting  the  hour  when  broken  hearts 
and  Christian  rites  should  consign  the  heroic  dead 
to  the  last,  last  resting-place. 

The  spot  thus  hallowed  by  such  association  is 
some  ten  miles  from  Richmond,  on  the  farm  of  Mr. 
Robert  Orrick,  and  but  a  short  distance  from  the 
railroad.  The  removal  thither  had  been  effected  by 


RECOVERY  OF  REMAINS.  275 

Mr.  Lohman,  a  resident  of  Richmond,  but  friendly 
to  the  Union  cause  and  in  communication  with 
General  Butler;  he  had  been  assisted  by  Mr.  Row 
ley,  and  a  few  others  were  cognizant  of  the  trans 
action. 

Towards  the  end  of  June,  the  condition  of  public 
affairs  on  the  Southern  Atlantic  coast  permitted 
the  withdrawal  of  the  principal  part  of  the  United 
States  naval  forces,  which,  conformably  to  the  di 
rections  of  the  Navy  Department,  were  nearly  all 
sent  North.  The  admiral  himself  soon  after  arrived 
at  Washington  in  the  Pawnee.  He  lost  no  time  in 
having  proper  examination  made,  in  order  to  verify 
the  remains  of  his  lamented  son.  The  intense  heat 
of  the  weather,  however,  rendered  it  unadvisable  to 
attempt  their  transference  to  the  burial  lot  of  the 
family,  near  Philadelphia.  The  obsequies  were 
therefore  necessarily  postponed  until  cold  weather. 

Meanwhile,  some  evidences  of  the  shocking  de 
tails  which  attended  the  last  moments  of  the  heroic 
dead  began  to  appear. 

Various  letters  had  reached  the  admiral  at  dif 
ferent  times  from  parties  in  Virginia,  stating  that 
the  writers,  or  persons  whom  they  knew,  were  in 
possession  of  articles  taken  from  the  body  of  Ulric 
Dahlgren,  which  they  offered  to  restore  on  condi 
tion  of  receiving  certain  specified  sums  of  money. 
The  base  instincts  of  the  brutal  crew  that  sur 
rounded  the  young  soldier  in  his  last  moments 


276  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

may  be  readily  conceived  from  such  offers,  if,  in 
deed,  they  had  not  been  fully  signified  by  other 
circumstances.  The  admiral  was  happily  secured 
from  the  necessity  of  having  to  deal  with  these 
atrocious  villains,  who  thus  asked  the  price  of 
blood ;  for  the  detective  force,  with  the  zeal  which 
had  characterized  their  operations  during  the  war, 
had  been  on  the  alert  in  endeavoring  to  recover 
whatever  had  belonged  to  Colonel  Dahlgren,  and 
were  in  pursuit  before  those  who  held  these  relics 
had  time  to  consummate  their  infamous  traffic. 
These  vigilant  officers  obtained  successively,  from 
various  parties,  the  coat  worn  by  Colonel  Dahlgren 
when  he  fell,  his  watch,  and  the  golden  ring  for 
which  the  finger  had  been  so  brutally  severed. 
The  artificial  leg  was  also  recovered.  The  coat 
was  pierced  by  four  bullet-holes,  on  the  left  side 
and  rather  towards  the  back,  showing  clearly  that 
the  fatal  volley  had  been  fired  after  he  passed,  and 
not  directly  at  him  as  he  approached. 

A  horse  that  he  was  supposed  to  have  ridden 
when  he  charged  into  Hagerstown,  and  at  the  time 
he  was  wounded  after  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  had 
been  regained  during  the  summer;  but  he  became 
sick  soon  after  reaching  Washington,  and  died,  be 
fore  he  could  be  removed  to  the  green  fields,  where 
it  was  intended  that  he  should  roam  free  from  fur 
ther  duty. 

The  horse  had  been  conveyed  to  a  farm  in  Vir- 


THE    CHRISTIAN  BURIAL. 


277 


ginia,  where  the  attention  of  some  of  our  soldiers 
had  been  attracted  by  hearing  him  spoken  of  as 
"Dahlgren."  Inquiry  disclosed  former  service, 
and  he  was  at  once  retaken. 


THE    CHRISTIAN   BURIAL. 

On  Monday,  the  3Oth  of  October  (1865),  Ad 
miral  Dahlgren  proceeded  to  the  vault,  to  super 
intend  personally  the  removal  of  the  remains  so 
precious  to  him.  Incased  in  a  metallic  casket, 
just  as  brought  from  Richmond,  they  were  trans 
ported  by  a  military  guard,  under  command  of 
Captain  Dempsey,  to  the  City  Hall  of  Washington, 
where  they  remained  during  the  night  in  charge  of 
six  commissioned  officers. 

Next  day  the  coffin  was  placed  in  the  Council- 
chamber,  and  rested  there  until  noon,  covered  by 
the  broad  folds  of  the  banner  which  the  youth  had 
so  well  served.  Upon  it  was  laid  the  letter  of  the 
War  Department,  which  has  been  already  given,* 
that  accompanied  his  commission  as  colonel. 

The  Council-chamber  was  filled  with  officers  and 
citizens.  The  day  was  lowering,  and  the  heavy 
clouds  threatened  rain.  The  troops  that  were  to 
act  as  escort  were  assembled  in  front  of  the  City 
Hall,  consisting  of  battalions  from  the  loth  Re- 

*  Chapter  xii.,  page  255. 
24 


2/8 


ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 


serve,  i8th  Regiment  Hancock's  Corps,  and  the 
1 95th  and  214th  Pennsylvania,  commanded  by 
Brigadier-General  Gile. 

At  noon  the  coffin  was  lifted  by  eight  non-com 
missioned  officers,  who  proceeded  to  carry  it  out 
of  the  building,  attended,  as  pall-bearers,  by 

BRIGADIER-GENERAL  DE  WITT,  COLONEL  FISHER, 

BRIGADIER-GENERAL  OLIPHANT,  COLONEL  CALLIS, 

.    COLONEL  JOHNSON,  COLONEL  JOHNSTON, 

COLONEL  PIERCE,  COLONEL  FOUST, 

with  the  guard  of  honor,  consisting  of 

CAPTAIN  ELDRIDGE,  CAPTAIN  GROUSE, 

CAPTAIN  PRESTON,  CAPTAIN  BURNELL, 

CAPTAIN  DWYER,  CAPTAIN  CAMP, 

of  the  Veteran  Reserve  Cavalry  Corps. 

Close  behind  walked  the  father  and  the  younger 
brother,  the  latter  having  been  permitted  to  leave 
West  Point  for  the  melancholy  occasion  ;  the  other 
brother  was  far  distant.  Last  came  the  officers  of 
the  army  and  navy. 

Among  the  numerous  spectators,  there  must 
have  been  many  who  remembered  Ulric  Dahlgren 
in  the  full  bloom  of  his  boyhood  and  youth,  pass 
ing  the  happy  hours  just  where  his  cold  body  was 
now  being  borne  to  receive  the  last  tokens  of 
respect. 

The  spacious  church  was  once  more  crowded  to 


THE   CHRISTIAN  BURIAL. 


2/9 


its  utmost  by  those  who  came  to  join  in  the  tribute 
so  well  merited  from  every  lover  of  the  country. 
Among  them  were  the  President,  with  nearly  all 
his  Cabinet,  the  mayor  of  the  city,  and  other 
distinguished  persons. 

The  coffin  was  carried  forward  and  placed  di 
rectly  before  the  pulpit. 

Never  were  words  from  that  desk  listened  to 
with  greater  attention  than  those  which  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Beecher  uttered  on  that  solemn  occasion.  The 
discourse  has  been  justly  considered  as  one  of  the 
finest  efforts  of  that  extraordinary  speaker.  So 
deeply  were  the  feelings  of  his  audience  stirred, 
that  even  the  circumstance  and  the  place  could 
not  restrain  the  low  demonstrations  that  seemed  to 
float  like  gentle  echoes  of  the  orator's  voice.  Yet 
was  the  inanimate  body  of  the  heroic  dead  not 
more  still  than  was  the  vast  assembly,  when  the 
discourse,  breaking  away  from  the  general  char 
acter  of  its  introduction,  was  turned  to  the  theme 
itself,  and  the  full,  rich  tones  of  the  reverend 
preacher  came  in  these  words  to  his  hearers : 

"We  have  assembled  to-day  to  replenish  our 
own  spirits  and  refresh  our  memory  with  these 
higher  truths,  by  paying  our  homage  of  love  and 
admiration  to  one  of  the  youngest,  purest,  and 
noblest  of  the  spirits  this  war  developed,  and  who 
have  saved  the  life  of  this  nation  by  freely  yielding 
their  own. 


28o  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

11  Could  we  have  chosen  the  circumstances^ 
should  we  have  chosen  so  wisely  and  well  for  this 
young  hero's  honor,  as  did  that  Providence  which 
then  seemed  black  with  woe  and  impenetrable  in 
mystery,  but  from  which  now  the  unfolding  clouds 
reveal  the  benignant  purpose  of  a  loving  God  ? 
Called  to  public  duty  before  he  reached  manhood, 
how  suddenly  he  shot  up  by  conspicuous  service 
into  notice!  He  earned  in  the  field  that  advantage 
which  a  less  noble  nature  might  have  expected  to 
have  inherited  from  the  name  and  services  of  his 
father,  and  he  was  advanced  not  by  solicitation,  but 
by  achievements ;  he  did  not  chase  down  honors, 
but  they  held  a  hard  race  to  catch  and  keep  up 
with  him. 

"  Simple  in  the  family  as  a  child,  he  flamed  forth 
in  the  hour  of  battle  like  outrunning  fire.  His 
courage  was  not  reckless  impetuosity ;  it  was  con 
centration  of  honest  purpose.  It  was  full  of  eyes 
of  caution ;  not  a  horse  broke  loose  and  unre- 
strainable,  but  a  steed  under  rein  and  broken  to 
the  rider's  will.  He  carried  home-virtues  into  the 
camp,  and  gloried  to  give  time,  strength,  and  his 
life  for  a  cause  dearer  to  him  than  life. 

"And  the  closing  scenes  of  his  visible  career  were 
worthy  of  a  nature  so  elevated.  Scarce  yet  recov 
ered  from  the  loss,  in  battle,  of  a  leg, — from  a  sick 
ness  accompanying,  which  seemed  likely  to  take 
life  also, — he  sought  and  obtained  permission  to 


THE   CHRISTIAN  BURIAL.  28l 

join  a  noble  expedition,  full  of  extreme  peril  and 
yet  more  extreme  fatigues,  when  he  yet  should 
have  been  on  his  couch. 

"  The  history  of  the  sufferings  of  Union  prisoners 
in  rebel  prison-houses  has  added  one  more  chapter 
to  the  great  book  of  cruelty.  No  explanations  can 
relieve  it,  and  no  apologies  tone  down  its  hideous 
picture.  As  we  go  away  from  it  down  the  years 
of  history,  it  will  neither  lose  ruggedness  nor  gain 
softer  tints ;  but,  like  a  mountain  which  cannot  be 
seen  from  its  near  base,  but  seems  to  rise  and  spread 
out  as  you  recede,  so  this  vast  atrocity  will  spread 
black  against  the  sky  down  to  the  end  of  time. 
There  is  nothing  like  it  in  the  history  of  the  world, 
and  I  trust  there  will  never  be  again. 

"It  was  a  heroic  purpose  that  fired  young  Dahl- 
gren  to  attempt  the  rescue  of  those  companions  in 
arms  from  such  hateful  bondage.  Such  a  sympathy 
with  others'  sufferings  enabled  him  to  forget  his 
own. 

"  He  mounted  his  saddle  from  his  crutches.  His 
spirit  sustained  his  body  in  a  ride  that  might  well 
wear  out  a  man  in  health  and  strength.  That  he 
failed  to  rescue  our  pining  and  tormented  prisoners, 
we  all  know.  None  will  ever  know  the  anguish 
with  which  he  must  have  passed  by  the  city  of 
cruelty  and  given  up  the  rescue.  He  had  almost 
completed  his  circuit,  and  was  nearing  a  friendly 
refuge,  when  from  ambush  there  came  a  bullet 
24* 


282  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

that  brought  him  to  the  ground.  As  an  eagle  falls, 
he  fell, — not  yet  slain,  but  pierced,  helpless, — 
dying,  with  helpless  wing  and  disheveled  plumage 
upon  the  ground  ;  but  an  eagle  yet,  with  unblench- 
ing  eye.  Death  rendered  him  insensible  to  re 
proach  and  cruelty. 

"And  so  his  life  ended;  nay,  so  his  life  began. 
The  body  was  slain,  the  spirit  was  emancipated. 
His  hands  could  do  no  more  for  his  country;  but 
his  example  would  call  a  thousand  hands  to  do 
more  than  he  had  ever  done.  No  more  was  his 
slender  form  to  be  seen  in  the  charge  of  battle  ; 
but  his  name  was  inspiration  to  unnumbered  youths. 

"  His  life  multiplied  itself  upon  every  generous 
youth  who,  by  his  example,  learned  'not  to  count 
his  life  dear  to  himself'  Dead  !  He  was  never  so 
royally  living !  We  are  looking  upon  the  place 
where  he  once  was ;  not  upon  him.  This  is  but 
the  souvenir,  the  remembrance  of  him ;  not  the 
man  or  the  hero.  Once  he  lived  subject  to  the 
need  of  a  fleshly  body ;  but  now  his  example  walks 
the  earth  with  tireless  feet,  and  needs  no  ministra 
tion  of  food  or  sleep. 

"  Once  he  dwelt  in  house  made  with  hands,  and 
only  one ;  but  now  he  dwells  in  thrice  ten  thou 
sand. 

"  Wherever  children  are  reared  to  Deity  and 
heroism,  there  his  example  lives.  Where  men 
glow  with  patriotism  and  kindle  with  gratitude  to 


THE   CHRISTIAN  BURIAL.  283 

those  who  saved  this  land  to  liberty  and  law,  there 
is  he  who  gave  his  life  for  his  native  land.  In 
cities  and  in  villages,  on  solitary  farms  and  in  the 
lumberman's  forest,  upon  the  shore  and  in  the  ship, 
among  lowland  herdsmen  and  among  mountaineers 
— from  the  shores  of  the  Atlantic,  across  the  great 
rivers  and  lakes,  across  the  mountains  to  the  Pacific 
Ocean — his  spirit  shall  brood  upon  the  young,  his 
example  shall  show  men  how  to  lose  their  lives  and 
gain  them  forever  ! 

"  Dahlgren  !  The  name  aforetime  was  strange 
to  English  lips,  and  of  sound  foreign  to  English 
ears.  But  now  it  is  no  longer  your  land  from 
which  it  came  !  It  is  ours ;  it  is  American.  Our 
children  shall  wear  it ;  and,  as  long  as  our  history 
lasts,  Dahlgren  shall  mean  truth,  honor,  bravery, 
and  heroic  sacrifice. 

"  Precious  dead  !  Dust,  thou  needest  no  pity  or 
sympathy  of  us  !  Is  the  eye  sunken  ?  Who  of  us 
beholds,  as  thou  dost,  from  the  spheres  above  ?  Is 
thy  hand  powerless  ?  What  hand  or  scepter  on 
earth  is  like  thine  for  influence?  Is  thy  heart 
pulseless  ?  Nay,  that  surely  is  not  dead  that  stirs 
thousands  of  hearts  with  joy  and  gratitude.  How 
glorious  is  this  deathless  life,  this  living  in  death ! 
Bear  ye  to  its  rest  this  precious  trust.  Him  ye  do 
not  bring, — only  the  shackles  that  confined  his 
spirit !  Above  you,  around  you,  with  you,  goes 
this  ransomed  spirit !  His  sufferings  are  ended, 


284  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

but  not  his  work.  Noiseless  and  tireless  worker, 
as  long  as  the  sea  beats  the  shore,  or  the  sun  warms 
the  soil,  thou  shalt  live  and  labor  in  thy  Master's 
cause. 

"Where  this  dust  shall  rest,  shall  come  pilgrims 
innumerable.  Mothers  holding  their  babes  shall 
Took  with  moist  eyes  upon  the  tablet,  and  silently 
pray  that  God  would  make  their  sons  like  him. 
And  many  a  poet  will  fill  his  numbers  with  inspira 
tion  from  his  sepulchre ;  and  many  a  teacher, 
skilled  in  witching  fiction,  shall  weave  his  deeds 
into  instructive  story. 

"  But,  high  above  all,  God  shall  give  his  angels 
charge  to  watch  and  guard  his  form  till  the  resur 
rection  morning.  Then,  once  more,  as  of  yore  in 
camp  he  waked  when  the  trumpet  sounded,  shall 
he  hear  the  trump  of  God,  and  rise  to  victory  and 
immortality." 

The  last  words  were  uttered,  and  the  solemn 
chant  of  the  choir,  deepened  by  the  full  notes  of  the 
organ,  gave  relief  to  the  strained  emotions  of  the 
audience. 

Nothing  could  surpass  the  impression  produced 
by  this  discourse,  for  the  cold,  silent  remains  of  him 
that  was  spoken  of  lay  in  view  of  all,  and  gave 
reality  and  life  to  the  magnificent  language  of  the 
speaker. 

One  of  those  present  writes,  "  Mr.  Beecher's  ora 
tion  was  listened  to  with  the  most  intense  interest 


THE   CHRISTIAN  BURIAL.  285 

by  one  of  the  largest,  most  appreciative,  and  distin 
guished  audiences  that  ever  assembled  to  do  honor 
to  the  memory  of  any  military  man  during  the  war, 
and  the  distinguished  orator  repeatedly  electrified 
that  vast  audience  with  his  outbursts  of  impassioned 
eloquence.  Faithful  as  our  report  is,  the  printed 
words  are  tame  and  commonplace  when  compared 
with  the  burning  utterances  which  fell  from  the 
lips  of  the  inspired  speaker.  It  was  an  occasion 
never  to  be  forgotten  by  those  who  were  so  fortu 
nate  as  to  be  present." 

The  remains  were  once  more  borne  along  the 
crowded  aisles,  placed  on  the  hearse,  and  attended 
with  every  honor  to  the  railroad  depot. 

Arriving  at  Baltimore,  a  body  of  troops  was  in 
waiting,  which,  to  the  sad  notes  of  the  funeral  dirge, 
formed  an  escort  through  the  city. 

Just  before  midnight,  the  admiral  reached  Phila 
delphia  with  the  remains  of  his  son,  which  were  at 
once  taken  in  charge  by  a  guard  of  officers,  and 
conveyed  to  the  Hall  of  Independence.  The  fol 
lowing  day,  the  coffin  was  placed  in  the  time-hon 
ored  chamber,  whence  issued  that  declaration  which 
ranked  this  country  in  the  family  of  recognized  na 
tionalities.  It  had  not  been  long  since  the  remains 
of  our  lamented  President  had  lain  there.  How 
little  did  he  foresee,  when  yielding  to  his  emotion 
on  hearing  of  the  fate  of  Ulric  Dahlgren,  that  he 
too  should  fall  by  a  traitor's  bullet ! 


286  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

The  commanding  generals  of  the  district,  Mr. 
Henry,  the  Mayor  of  Philadelphia,  and  other  dis 
tinguished  gentlemen  were  assembled  in  the  morn 
ing.  The  funeral  discourse  was  pronounced  by 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Wilson,  one  of  the  most  learned  and 
eloquent  of  our  Presbyterian  divines ;  his  fine,  com 
manding  presence  well  graced  the  place  and  the 
occasion.  All  who  listened  to  the  classic  language 
that  flowed  from  his  lips  in  feeling  and  earnest 
tones,  might  have  felt  that  as  he  spoke  he  was 
touched  by  the  consciousness  of  a  reality.  It  had 
been  his  duty  to  consecrate  with  the  first  rites  of 
the  church  the  lifeless  form  that  lay  before  him,  of 
which  he  thus  spoke : 

"These  hands  sprinkled  the  water  of  baptism 
on  his  infant  brow ;  emblem  of  a  deeper,  holier 
cleansing  of  the  Spirit  of  God  in  his  soul.  Oh,  how 
little  I  thought,  in  the  quiet,  holy  stillness  of  that 
peaceful  chamber,  when  that  solemn  rite  was  per 
formed,  and  of  which  every  witness  is  gone  but  he 
who  is  chief  mourner  here  to-day, — how  little  I 
thought  of  what  lay  behind  the  veil  that  shut  out 
the  future  !  But  I  thank  God  and  rejoice  that  the 
prayers  then  offered  are  to-day  more  than  answered." 

And  now  the  lamented  one  is  carefully  lifted  and 
carried  from  the  hall,  through  the  grounds  in  its 
rear,  reaching  the  outlet  on  Walnut  Street,  where 
the  extended  lines  of  the  soldiery  salute  the  hon 
ored  bier.  A  throng  of  people  look  on  in  pro- 


THE   CHRISTIAN  BURIAL.  287 

found  silence,  from  the  walks,  the  pavements,  and 
the  windows. 

Followed  by  the  remnant  of  the  family,  by 
friends,  and  by  the  military,  the  funeral  train  pro 
ceeds  to  Laurel  Hill,  taking  the  very  road  which 
the  gallant  youth  had  himself  traversed,  in  duti 
ful  attendance  upon  the  remains  of  mother,  and 
brother,  and  sister.  Now  it  is  his  turn  to  be  thus 
attended. 

The  cemetery  is  reached,  the  procession  winds 
along  its  peaceful  walks,  and  then  halts  near  the 
place  of  interment.  Once  more,  and  for  the  last 
time,  the  heroic  dead  is  borne  by  the  hands  of  men. 
The  light  of  a  mellow  autumnal  day  glows  on  the 
grass  and  glances  amid  the  rustling  leaves ;  the 
rich  green  of  the  foliage  is  darkening  with  the  hues 
of  the  departing  year,  and  lines  of  armed  men 
are  formed  with  military  precision  along  the  way. 
Everything  that  meets  the  eye  is  in  unison  with 
the  solemnity,  and  not  a  sound  breaks  on  the  ear 
to  divert  the  attention  from  that  bier.  Closely 
following  it  are  the  father,  and  brother,  and  the 
reverend  speaker.  Presently  they  stand  beside  the 
narrow  dwelling  in  mother  earth  which  is  to  receive 
the  honored  relics.  The  coffin  has  been  lowered 
to  its  place,  and  neither  movement  nor  sound  is 
perceptible  among  the  living  masses  that  gather 
around. 

Suddenly  the  preacher  moves  from  his  place, 


288  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

and  stands  at  the  head  of  the  grave.  Uncovered, 
and  with  raised  hand,  his  clear,  firm  voice  fills  the 
space  around  in  solemn  invocation : 

"  We  are  to-day,  my  friends,  looking  upon  our 
graves,  and  thinking  of  the  skies.  There  is  a 
mightier  congregation  here  of  the  dead  than  of 
the  living ;  but  there  is  a  day  coming  to  earth's 
mightiest  and  lowliest,  when  all  these  graves  shall 
be  opened.  There  shall  be  to  all  of  us  a  resur 
rection.  God  grant  it  may  be  a  resurrection  to 
life!" 

The  profound  silence  is  broken  only  by  the  quick, 
clear  click  of  muskets,  and  then  comes  the  loud 
volley  from  a  thousand  muskets,  repeated  again 
and  again. 

They  will  not  arouse  that  sleeper  now ;  for  he 
sleeps  his  last  sleep. 

Once,  that  sharp  rattle  would  have  awakened 
every  pulse  of  the  gallant  heart  that  now  heeds 
not  its  summons.  And  oh  !  there  was  one  hour  of 
life — the  very  last — when  the  presence  of  that  array 
would  have  turned  away  death,  or  consecrated  it 
with  victory.  But  how  vain  such  thought ! 

And  thus  honor  is  done  to  whom  honor  is  due ; 
even  vengeance  could  not  avert  it.  The  noble 
youth  at  last  sleeps  quietly,  the  sleep  that  knows 
no  waking.  He  is  placed  close  by  the  mortal 
remains  of  the  cherished  mother,  who  so  often 
moulded  his  young  thought  and  brought  gladness 


THE   CHRISTIAN  BURIAL.  289 

to  his  heart,  and  light  to  his  eye.  She,  at  least, 
was  spared  the  sorrow  of  these  hours. 

In  a  brief  space  all  have  dispersed,  and  left  the 
dead  to  the  solitude  of  the  grave, — their  slumbers 
soothed  by  the  murmuring  breeze  and  the  sound 
of  the  moving  waters  of  the  river  that  winds  by. 

Peace  to  his  ashes !  The  laurels  on  the  young 
and  fair  brow  will  never  fade  while  there  are  true 
men  and  women  in  the  land  to  keep  them  green. 

Remembered  among  those  the  nation  mourns, 
will  be  the  name  of  Ulric  Dahlgren. 


A.  IF:F  E  nsr  ID  1 2C. 


A   CHAPLET 


FOR 


ULRIC    DAHLGREN. 


A    CHAPLET 


FOR 


ULRIC    DAHLGREN. 


DEATH  OF  COLONEL  ULRIC  DAHLGREN,  UNITED 
STATES  CAVALRY. 

BY   M.   S.    NEWCOMER. 

FIRM  with  his  face  to  the  foe, 

Steady  the  sword  in  his  hand, 
Stranger  to  terror  or  woe — 

Worthy  to  lead  such  a  band : 
Bravely  he  met  victory, 

Sealed  with  his  own  precious  blood, . 
His  bold  heart  died  to  be  free, 

Warmed  by  its  outgushing  flood. 

CIIIFTAIN  OF  GLORY  !  all  hail  ! 

Majesty  pales  in  thy  light — 
Despots  will  stagger  and  quail, 

To  see  thee  bleed  for  the  Right : — 
Freedom  will  sing  of  thy  name, 

Ages  of  time  yet  to  be ; 
Bright  are  the  laurels  of  fame, 

Twining  in  beauty  for  thee. 

25*  (293) 


294 


ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

Time  will  but  add  to  the  thrill, 

Swelling  the  popular  heart, — 
Vengeance  and  glory  will  still 

Blend  with  our  tears  as  they  start. 
Garlands  of  roses  we'll  twine, 

Softly  we'll  speak  in  thine  ear, 
Home  of  the  brave  shall  be  thine, — 

Liberty  weeps  at  thy  bier! 

Traitors  may  scoff  at  thy  corpse, 

And  fiends  may  howl  at  thy  grave — 
Freedom  forgets  not  its  source, 

In  the  warm  blood  of  the  brave. 
Deity  smiles  upon  thee ; 

HERCULES  OF  LIBERTY  !  hail  !• — 
The  stripes  and  the  stars  of  the  free 

Will  never  grow  languid  or  pale. 

Treason  may  rave  in  its  lair, 

Mocking  the  dust  of  the  slain, 
None  its  dark  burden  to  bear, 

Save  the  brute  lord  of  the  chain  ; — 
Liberty  saved  from  its  wrath, 

Will  own  the  soil  it  has  trod, 
Despite  the  foes  in  its  path, 

To  bless  its  MAKER  and  GOD  ! 

Village  Record. 


A    CHAPLET.  295 


LYRICS   OF  TO-DAY. 

FROM   THE   BOSTON   TRANSCRIPT. 

ON  guard  to-night — and  through  all  the  darkness  comes 
The  notes  of  bugles  and  the  roll  of  drums 
Sounding  tattoo — while  from  the  city  near — 
Richmond,  doomed  city,  trembling  now  with  fear — 
Borne  on  the  breeze,  these  are  the  words  I  hear  : 

Who  talks  of  peace  ? 

Who  says,  Let  this  War  cease  ? 
While  we  in  Libby  lie  and  plainly  hear 

Brothers  in  arms 

Sounding  war's  loud  alarms 
At  Richmond's  very  gates,  that  quake  with  fear. 

Who  of  peace  prates 

While  dead  and  dying  mates 
Fill  Southern  graves  and  cells  ?     And  we  all  hope, — 

Some  for  grim  death, 

While  some,  with  bated  breath, 
Whisper  of  those  who  shall  prison-doors  ope. 

Have  ye  forgot 

That  this  accursed  spot 
Holds  men  who've  bravely  fought  for  home  and  you  ? 

Day  after  day 

They  wait  and  watch  and  pray — 
God  grant  their  hopes  and  prayers  may  all  come  true ! 


296  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

For  you  they've  borne 

Insults,  and  taunts,  and  scorn, 
Been  robbed,  and  starved,  and  seen  comrades  shot  dead 

By  prison-guards. 

Are  these  the  poor  rewards 
With  which  our  country  crowns  the  soldier's  head  ? 

Here  DAHLGREN  lies, 

Sleeping  'neath  Southern  skies, 
His  crippled  form  by  traitors  rudely  thrown 

In  unknown  grave ; 

Yet  there  are  those  who  rave 
Of  Peace,  ere  vengeance  justly  claims  its  own. 

Ere  Peace  there  be, 

Give  us  our  Liberty. 
Let  us  the  traitors  meet  once  more  in  fight ; 

We  all  have  sworn 

That  every  wrong  we've  borne 
Shall  be  wiped  out  in  blood  or  in  death's  night. 

W.  H.  K. 

September,  1864. 


A    CHAPLET.  297 


ULRIC    DAHLGREN. 

BY   REV.  CHARLES   W.    DENISON. 

WE  met  at  Harper's  Ferry,  in  the  gorges  of  the  hills, 
Where,  chasing  the  Potomac,  come  leaping  down  the  rills; 
We  stood  in  Union  armor  by  Shenandoah's  tide, 
And,  ready  for  the  battle,  Sigel  was  by  our  side. 
The  frowning  Heights  of  Maryland  with  waving  plumes  of  gray 
Through  the  autumnal  twilight  bade  grand  adieus  that  day ; 
The  table-rocks  of  Jefferson  gloamed  in  the  darkness  there, 
And  the  spirit  of  the  patriot  seemed  hovering  in  the  air. 

Oh,  scene  of  desolation!     The  guilt,  and  woe,  and  shame 

Of  slavery  in  rebellion  had  burnt  the  land  with  flame; 

The^sleep  of  Justice  wakened  by  Monticello's  grave, 

And  in  conflict  with  the  master  she  sided  with  the  slave. 

In  that  historic  temple  where  Washington  had  stood, 

Before  the  shattered  altars  in  old  Virginia's  wood, 

Young  DAHLGREN  raised  his  sworded  hand  and  sacredly  he  vowed , 

"My  country's  banner  shall  prevail,  or  be  my  winding  shroud  !" 

So  spake  the  boy  that  evening,  then  dashed  along  the  right, 
And,  in  the  name  of  freedom,  put  slavish  hordes  to  flight ; 
At  Fredericksburg  embattled  he  strode  the  crimson  field, 
His  watchword  of  the  column,  "  To  traitors  never  yield!" 
Through  the  dark  haze  of  Gettysburg  he  flashed  a  living  flame, 
And  on  the  scroll  of  heroes  wrote  his  own  immortal  name  ; 
With  the  torn  flag  of  Hagerstown  his  body  shrouded  round, 
He   fought   oppression's   myrmidons  stretched   bleeding   on   the 

ground ; 

Then  torn,  and  maimed,  and  weak,  he  rose  as  valiant  as  of  yore — 
He  was  cf  age  that  day  of  grace--he  was  a  man  before. 


298  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

O  manful  boy !  O  youthful  peer !  O  Ulric  the  brave  ! 
The  proudest  of  thy  patriot  deeds  shall  monument  thy  grave. 
Around  thy  hidden  sod  at  night  the  grateful  slave  shall  cling, 
And  in  fond  tones  through  Libby's  cells  thy  requiem  shall  ring. 
Almost  alone,  without  the  trump  and  blazonry  of  war, 
In  darkness,  hand  to  hand  with  death,  thou  wert  death's  conqueror. 
Above  that  spot  our  flag  will  float,  but  not  thy  shroud ;  'twill  be 
The  pennon  call  to  avenge  thy  fall,  borne  over  land  and  sea ; 
With  Winthrop  and  with  Lyon,  with  Foote  and  Shaw  art  thou, 
And  DAHLGREN  shines  with  them  henceforth  on  Freedom's  starry 
brow. 

ALLYN  HOUSE,  HARTFORD. 


A    CHAPLET.  299 


LINES   SUGGESTED  BY  THE   DEATH    OF  ONE  OF  THE  BRAVEST    MEN 
THIS   WAR    HAS    BROUGHT    INTO   THE   SERVICE — 

COLONEL    ULRIC    DAHLGREN. 

ULRIC  DAHLGREN,  in  the  story 

Of  thy  country's  grief  and  wrong, 
Yours  shall  stand  a  name  of  glory, 

Bright  in  history  and  song. 

Since  bold  treason  sent  its  thunder 

Over  Charleston's  placid  bay, 
While  the  world  looked  on  in  wonder 

At  the  madness  of  the  day, 

Oh,  how  many  lives  have  perished — 

Gone,  like  bubbles  on  the  brine — 
Lives  by  warm  affection  cherished — 

None,  young  hero,  more  than  thine  ! 


Thou,  scarce  launched  on  life's  great  ocean, 
Courage  thine,  both  rare  and  grand, 

Thy  young  heart's  supreme  devotion 
To  thy  dear,  thy  native  land, 


Joined  to  make  all  patriots  love  thee, 
Joined  to  give  thee  station,  power — 

In  th'  embattled  field  to  prove  thee 
Worthy,  'mid  the  wildest  hour. 


3oo  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

ULRIC  DAHLGREN,  them  hast  given 
Thy  blood  in  freedom's  cause  to  flow ; 

God  will  bless  thee  up  in  heaven, 
Good  men  bless  thee  here  below. 

Traitors  hate  thee — oh,  the  glory 

Of  such  hatred  to  the  true  ! 
Traitor,  scoundrel,  villain,  toiy, 

.Ever  will  hate  such  as  you. 

Sleep,  young  hero ;  thou,  in  dying, 

Fallest  in  the  cause  of  right ; 
And  thy  memory,  time  defying, 

Shall  be  ever,  ever  bright. 

B.  B.  FRENCH. 

WASHINGTON,  D.  C. 


4    CHAPLET. 


307 


ULRIC    DAHLGREN. 

BY    CHARLES    HENRY    BROCK. 

QUENCH  the  burning  indignation, 

Check  the  rising  tear  ; 
Be  his  sepulchre  the  Nation, 

And  the  Land  his  bier ! 

Hellish  vengeance  hath  consigned  him 

To  a  grave  unknown  : 
Freedom's  angel  hath  enshrined  him 

By  her  altar-stone. 

Curse  and  mangle,  O  ye  traitors  ! 

What  is  left  of  him: 
Crush  and  sever,  ruthless  haters ! 

Every  youthful  limb ; 

Hide  him  in  your  dark  morasses, 

That  no  verdant  sod 
E'er  may  tell,  to  him  who  passes, 

Where  he  rests  with  God. 

But  ye  cannot  crush  the  story 

Of  his  hero- worth, 
Nor  debase  his  wealth  of  glory 

With  ignoble  earth. 

And  ye  cannot  hide  the  gleaming 

Of  his  hero-name, 
For  it  kindles  with  each  beaming 

Of  his  Country's  fame  ! 
26 


302 


ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

Spirit  of  the  son  immortal ! 

Wailings  of  the  sire  ! 
Peace,  for  in  your  Nation's  portal 

Hangs  the  funeral  lyre ; 

Breathing  there  the  mighty  chorus 
Of  the  young  and  brave, 

How  he  died,  awhile  before  us, 
Liberty  to  save ! 

Oh,  be  this  the  consolation, 
This  the  mourner's  pride, 

That  the  story  fires  the  Nation, 
How  he  lived  and  died  ! 

Be  the  sepulchre  that  holds  him 

Hidden  as  it  may, 
'Tis  his  Country  that  enfolds  him 

With  her  native  clay. 


PHILADELPHIA,  March,  1864. 


A    CHAPLET.  303 


THE  CARVED  LETTERS. 

AN    INCIDENT  IN   THE  BOYHOOD    OF   THE  BRAVE    YOUNG  SOLDIER, 
COLONEL    ULRIC    DAHLGREN. 

IT  was  a  morn  of  summer, 

And  the  woods  were  waving  free, 
When  a  youthful  group  stood  resting 

Beneath  an  old  beech-tree. 

We  had  wandered  through  the  woodland, 

Had  culled  the  modest  flowers, 
And  watched  the  sweet  birds  flitting 

Across  the  shaded  bowers. 

And  now  beside  the  streamlet, 

To  list  its  silver  song, 
We  rested  in  the  noontide, 

For  the  summer  days  are  long. 

A  spell  seemed  o'er  us  thown, 

The  air  was  hushed  and  still, 
And  the  flowers  bent  down,  half  sleeping, 

Above  the  singing  rill. 

And  the  dreamy  hush  of  Nature 

Laid  its  touch  upon  each  brow  ; 
All  our  merry  converse  languished, 

We  scarce  knew  why,  or  how. 

Then  a  stripling,  tall  and  slender, 

Arose  in  quiet  wise  ; 
His  brow  was  broad  and  truthful, 

And  earnest  were  his  eyes. 


304  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

There  on  the  bark,  moss-broidered, 
That  clothed  the  aticient  tree, 

He  carved,  with  careful  touches, 
Two  letters  quaint — U,  D. 

We  watched  him  in  the  stillness, 
But  the  work  was  done  full  soon  ; 

And  our  path  was  taken  homeward 
Ere  the  twilight's  evening  gloom. 

We  saw  not,  in  our  blindness, 
What  his  task  might  typify  ; 

For  the  coming  years'  sad  record 
Was  veiled  from  mortal  eye. 

The  sky  was  pure  and  cloudless,* 
The  air  was  fresh  and  sweet ; 

The  flowering  grass  shed  perfume 
As  we  stirred  it  with  our  feet. 

And  in  this  wealth  of  beauty 
But  One  could  truly  know 

That  passion-fires  were  smouldering, 
To  break  in  pain  and  woe. 

It  came !  the  crash  of  cannon, 
That  shook  our  peaceful  land, 

And  turned  the  crook  and  plowshare 
To  sword  and  warlike  brand. 

It  roused  the  noble  spirit 

That  dwelt  within  the  youth  ; 

And  forth  he  rushed  to  battle 
For  his  Country  and  for  Truth. 


A    CHAPLET.  305 

No  path  could  Duty  show  him 

Too  hard  for  him  to  go  ; 
But  swift  as  winged  lightning 

He  fell  upon  the  foe. 

And  by  his  holy  daring, 

For  Right,  to  do  or  die, 
He  carved  his  name  ancestral 

On  Honor's  roll  full  high. 

The  tree  may  fall  and  perish, 

The  letters  there  may  fade ; 
But  never  shall  his  memory 

Be  in  oblivion  laid. 


But  ever  'mid  the  bravest 

Shall  shine  in  glory  forth 
The  name  of  ULRIC  DAHLGREN, 
The  hero  of  the  North. 

M.  T.  C. 
WILMINGTON,  September  16,  1864. 


26* 


306  ULRIC  DAHLGRKN. 

ULRIC  UAHLGREN. 

BY    HENRY   T.    TUCKERMAN. 

WHEN,  circled  by  the  fond  and  fair, 
We  saw  thee  maimed  and  pale, 

With  that  heroic,  gentle  air 
Before  which  cowards  quail ; 

So  radiant  in  the  grasp  of  pain, 

So  meek  with  valor's  crown, 
Our  swelling  hearts  could  not  refrain 

To  bless  thy  young  renown. 

Youth's  artless  cheer  with  manhood's  thought 
In  word  and  glance  o?erflow, 

As  if  thy  life  had  newly  caught 
Thy  blood's  ancestral  glow; 

The  spirit  of  old  Sweden's  king 
Which  mien  and  accent  bore, 

In  every  pulse-beat  seemed  to  spring 
Intrepid  as  of  yore. 

It  nerved  thy  arm  in  wild  foray, 

And  round  thy  martyr's  bed, 
Where  love  and  faith  still  watch  and  pray, 

Angelic  patience  shed. 

Vain  the  base  ambush  from  whose  lair 

The  murderer's  bullet  came, 
And  vain  the  slander  that  would  tear 

The  glory  from  thy  name. 

O  Ulric  !  brutal  hate  will  pine, 

All  impotent  to  sear 
The  laurels  that  thy  country's  shrine 

Forever  shall  endear. 


A    CHAPLET.  307 


COLONEL  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

BY    EPES    SARGENT. 

O  YOUTH  beloved,  revered  ! 
Now  to  all  hearts  endeared, 

Loyal  and  true, — 
What  grief  profound  was  stirred, 
When  of  thy  fate  we  heard, 

'Mid  the  foul  crew  ! 

Not  thy  fifth-lustrum  told, 
Thou  wert  in  service  old, 

Crippled  and  scarred ; 
Yet  in  thy  boyish  hand 
Wielding  the  leader's  brand, 

Honor's  bright  guard  ! 

Shall  we  deplore  thy  lot, 
Never  to  be  forgot 

On  history's  page  ? 
No  !  in  immortal  youth 
There  lift  thy  brow  of  truth 

From  age  to  age  ! 

No  !  we  will  weep  no  more  ; 
No  !  we  will  not  deplore, 

Dahlgren  !  thy  fall : 
Life-growth  to  freedom's  tree, 
Blood  such  as  thine  shall  be  : — 

Glorious  thy  call ! 

Let,  then,  from  rebel  throat 
Issue  the  taunting  note, 

Mocking  thy  fame  : 
That  fame  shall  mount  the  higher,- 
Shall  all  our  youth  inspire 

With  its  pure  flame  ! 


308  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 


COLONEL  ULRIC  DAHLGREN. 

FROM  THE  SPRINGFIELD  WEEKLY  REPUBLICAN,  APRIL   9,    1864. 

SENTRY  stand  the  Southern  pines, 
Tenderly  the  moonlight  shines, 
Where  the  mould  hath  hidden  deep 
Hero-dust  where  none  may  weep ; 
Ever  towards  that  lonely  glen 
Turn  the  hearts  of  Northern  men  ; 
Voices  'neath  a  Southern  sky 
Breathe  a  name  that  cannot  die, — 
DAHLGREN ! 

Well  we  know  that  midnight  dread — 
Baffled,  broken,  and  misled — 
When  glad  hope  and  courage  high 
Meant — "  a  dog's  death"  there  to  die  ! 
Well  we  know  how  bravely  then 
Stood  thy  band  of  death-doomed  men, 
With  the  prowling  wolves  atrack, 
Home  and  friends  behind  their  back, 
DAHLGREN  ! 

Patriot-martyr,  not  in  vain 
Poured  thy  breast  its  crimson  rain  ! 
Hero-blood  makes  noble  seed ! 
Pity,  in  their  hour  of  need, 
Those  who  hear  that  name  again 
On  the  lips  of  earnest  men, 
With  the  death-stern  battle-cry, 
Front  to  front,  and  eye  to  eye, 
DAHLGREN ! 


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V.  FULL  BIBLIOGRAPHICAL  REFERENCES. 


"  I  have  taken  the  trouble  to  look  out  a 
large  number  of  names,  such  as  seemed 
to  me  good  tests  of  the  compass,  suf- 
ficency  and  accuracy  of  the  biographical 
notices.  The  resvlt  has  been  in  a  high 
degree  satisfactory.  So  far  as  I  have  ex 
amined  nobody  was  omitted  that  deserved 
a  place,  and  the  just  proportions  were 
maintained  between  the  various  claim 
ants  to  their  page,  or  paragraph,  or  line. 
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possess,  both  on  account  of  the  fullness 
of  its  matter,  and  because  the  pronuncia 
tion  of  the  names  is  given.  I  have  had 
occasion,  from  the  other  works  of  Dr. 
Thomas,  to  be  convinced  of  his  great  ex 
actness  in  that  respect.  The  work  will  be 
a  valuable  addition  to  the  books  of  refer 
ence  in  our  language." — From  WILLIAM 
CULLEN  BRYANT. 


"  I  can  speak  in  high  terms  of  the  tho 
roughness  and  accuracy  with  which  the 
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house  of  valuable  and  trustworthy  infor 
mation.  The  pronunciation  of  the  names, 
which  is  systematically  given,  will  add 
much  to  the  usefulness  of  the  work." — 
From  Prof.  JAMES  HADLEY,  Yale  Col 
lege. 

"  I  think  that  the  work  when  completed 
will  supply  a  real  want.  I  was  especially 
pleased  with  the  sensible  and  learned 
preface  of  the  editor,  and  am  persuaded 
that  he  has  chosen  the  true  system  of 
orthography.  From  what  I  know  of  Dr. 
Thomas,  I  feel  sure  that  he  will  give  us  a 
book  that  may  be  depended  on  for  com 
prehensiveness  and  accuracy,  the  two 
great  desideranda  in  such  an  undertak 
ing." — From  Prof.  JAS.  RUSSELL  LOW 
ELL. 

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